McLaughlin Enjoying Outstanding Saratoga Meeting
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Currently third in the trainer standings with 10 wins, Kiaran McLaughlin is enjoying his best year at the Spa since 2012, when he won four Grade 1 races, and is on pace for a personal-best number of victories. Though he is striking at a torrid 42 percent clip and has won with seven of nine starters entering Sunday, McLaughlin still found himself 10 wins shy of leading trainer Todd Pletcher.
"We were leading trainer in 2008 with 17 [winners]. Seventeen won't get it done this year; Todd and Chad [Brown] are already past it," McLaughlin said with a chuckle. "We're having an unbelievable run, though. Everything's going right and it's pretty incredible."
McLaughlin has found success with all different types of horses at the stand. He's won the Grade 1 Test with Cavorting, Grade 2 Maker's Mark Lake Placid with
Sentiero Italia and the Alydar Stakes with Bay of Plenty, but also, atypically, has two winners in the claiming ranks to go along with a bevy of maiden winners.
On Saturday, the way McLaughlin's meet is going was on full display. The trainer saddled three horses, a pair of outsiders and Elraazy, a promising 3-year-old filly for Shadwell Stable. As luck would have it, both "outsiders" won and Elraazy finished ninth at odds of 5-2.
The day also took on special meaning for McLaughlin because it was Allen Jerkens Day at the Spa. The Kentucky-born horseman currently occupies Jerkens' old barn.
"We ran three and we thought the filly, Elraazy, probably had our best chance, so it's just the way it goes," said McLaughlin. "Everything is going great. It was great to win two on his day out of his barn."
McLaughlin's success has had a trickle-down effect, as well. Godolphin Racing, his biggest client, is currently leading owner with six wins, and his other victories have been distributed evenly among other major clients Stonestreet Stables, Shadwell, and Cheyenne Stables.
"Everything has fallen into place. It's been fun," said McLaughlin.
Source: NYRA Communications
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