Jockey Graham, trainer Faucheux repeat as Fair Grounds titlists

Jockey James Graham, trainer Ron Faucheux and Evelyn Benoit’s Brittlyn Stable won titles during the 150th anniversary meet that ended Sunday at Fair Grounds in New Orleans.

Graham claimed his fourth Fair Grounds riding championship, collecting 72 victories to finish 10 ahead of Mitchell Murrill and 12 more than Colby Hernandez. Graham also led all jockeys in purse earnings with $2,692,890.

His biggest wins were with Two Emmys in the Muniz Memorial Classic presented by Horse Racing Nation (G2) and with Call Me Midnight in the Lecomte (G3).

With 43 wins during the 80-day season, Faucheux won his second consecutive training title. He finished with 10 more victories than Brad Cox, who had won four straight championships before Faucheux snapped his streak last year. Steve Asmussen tied for third with 29 wins but had the most purse money with $2,471,130.

Brittlyn Stable totaled 22 victories to win its first owners title. Working mostly with trainer José Camejo, Benoit’s operation had eight more wins than the second-place Allied Racing Stable owned by Chester Thomas. Godolphin, the 2021 titlist, was third with 10 wins.

Winchell Thoroughbreds had only four victories but amassed the most purse money with $1,032,740, mostly from Epicenter’s victory Saturday in the Louisiana Derby (G2).