Chad Brown notched 23 wins to finish as the leading trainer at the Belmont spring/summer meet for the fifth consecutive time and jockey Irad Ortiz, Jr. posted 34 victories to lead all riders as the 25-day meet concluded Sunday at Belmont Park. Klaravich Stables led all owners with 13 wins, outpacing second-place finisher Michael Dubb, who had seven victories.
“I'm really proud of our team. We had a late start to the year and it was frustrating for everybody–the staff, the owners, everybody involved,” Brown said. “Our team held it together. We had to change plans with several horses. We had to change plans with living arrangements for people on our team. Everyone had to make sacrifices and alter their life–and that's not just our stable, that's other stables, racetrack management and all around in other industries.”
Ortiz was the leading rider for the second time in the last three Belmont spring/summer meets, compiling a 34-23-13 record in 128 mounts, winning at more than a 26% clip.
“I've done well in the spring here. I'm thankful to all the trainers and the owners,” Ortiz said.
Live racing shifts to upstate New York when the 40-day Saratoga meet opens July 16.
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