Manny Franco, Linda Rice leading jockey and trainer at Aqueduct spring meet

Jockey Manny Franco and trainer Linda Rice were the respective leaders of the jockey and trainer standings at this year’s Aqueduct winter meet, and kept their success rolling as they paced all others to win their respective categories at the Aqueduct spring meet, which ran from April 2-26.

Franco, 31, earned 22 wins to land his fourth riding title at the Aqueduct spring meet, adding to wins in 2019 and 2023-24. The native of Carolina, Puerto Rico posted an overall record of 103-22-28-16, good for a win rate of 21.36 percent and in-the-money rate of 64.08 percent with $1,518,315 in total purse earnings.

“I’m just happy every day to have the opportunity from the trainers and owners,” said Franco, The New York Racing Association, Inc. (NYRA)’s leading rider in 2018, 2019, 2023 and 2025. “I’m happy be here in New York and I’m blessed.”

Among Franco’s wins was a stakes triumph with the Rice-trained Hot Currency in the NYSSS Fourstar Crook on April 11, as well as debut scores with promising sophomores All of It [April 16] and Homewood Hustle [April 18]. He also celebrated three-win days on three consecutive cards from April 18-23.

“When you win, everybody is happy,” said Franco, who is represented by agent John Panagot. “That’s my job – get the horses home and that’s what I try to do every day.”

Franco said the meet title is a confidence booster heading into the weekend at Churchill Downs, where he is slated to ride local Grade 2 Wood Memorial presented by Resorts World Casino-winner Albus in the Grade 1 Kentucky Derby on Saturday along with six other stakes contenders on the card.

“That helps a lot. Your confidence level is at the top. I’m just looking forward to Saturday,” Franco said. “Hopefully, we get a good trip and make the most of the opportunity.”

Jaime Rodriguez finished second in the standings with 13 wins while Dylan Davis and Ricardo Santana, Jr. tied for third with 11 wins each.

Linda Rice, NYRA’s leading trainer in 2025, continued her winning ways with a dominant victory in the trainer standings, posting 21 wins for her fourth consecutive and seventh overall win at this meet. The spring meet title was her third consecutive on the circuit, and came on the heels of a runaway victory at the Aqueduct winter meet where she posted a personal-best 62 wins, and at the Aqueduct fall meet with 31 wins.

Rice, 62, compiled a record of 79-21-19-11 with $1,180,564 in total purses, good for a win rate of 26.58 percent and an in-the-money percentage of 64.56.

“It’s been a tough winter here in New York and it wasn’t for the faint of heart,” Rice said, with a laugh. “I’m anxious for the spring and summer meet and for Saratoga. It’s been a great winter, and hopefully we can keep it going.

“We just look at distance, surface, and try to make sure we don’t set the bar too high for them,” Rice added. “We look for reasonable spots.”

Rice’s wins included a pair of stakes scores in the aforementioned Fourstar Crook with Hot Currency, and in the Listed Excelsior with Yo Daddy on April 4, one of four wins on that card to go along with three allowance level scores with Waitlist, Porosity and Munnings Express.

Rice said Hot Currency is expected to make her next start in the state-bred $200,000 Bouwerie, slated for the June 3 New York Showcase Day to open the Belmont Stakes Racing Festival at Saratoga Race Course.

“Hot Currency is a nice filly and we are pointing towards the Bouwerie at Saratoga,” Rice said. “I love having these nice young horses in our barn.

“It was thrilling to win with Yo Daddy,” Rice added. “We’d given him six months off, he came back and won an allowance, was second in the Stymie, and then won the Excelsior. It was really rewarding.”

Chad Brown finished second in the trainer standings with 11 wins while Rick Dutrow, Jr. finished third with six wins.

As she did at the winter meet, Rice also came out on top in the owners standings, posting seven wins with an overall record of 35-7-12-4 and $406,794 in purse earnings. Her wins as an owner were topped by a 4 1/4-length allowance romp by Commuted on April 25.

“I play the game pretty aggressively in New York, and I think the fall, winter and spring are a good time for us to run horses and be aggressive,” she said.

Winning Move Stable and Michael Dubb tied for second with four wins each. 

Live racing resumes Thursday on Opening Day of the spring/summer meet at Belmont at the Big A with an eight-race card. First post is 1:10 p.m. Eastern.

America's Day at the Races presents live coverage and analysis of every day of the Belmont at the Big A spring/summer meet on the networks of FOX Sports. For the broadcast schedule and channel finder, visit https://www.nyra.com/aqueduct/racing/tv-schedule.

NYRA Bets is the official wagering platform of Belmont at the Big A, and the best way to bet every race of the spring/summer meet. Available to horse players nationwide, the NYRA Bets app is available for download today on iOS and Android at www.NYRABets.com.