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​Brown earns eighth consecutive year-end training title at NYRA; Davis earns first year-end riding title

by Mary Eddy

Four-time Eclipse Award-winning trainer Chad Brown secured his eighth consecutive year-end training title on the New York Racing Association, Inc. (NYRA) circuit with 159 wins from 587 starters, good for a win percentage of 27.09 with an in-the-money rate of 59.28 percent through 196 racing days. The native of Mechanicville, N.Y. enjoyed his best season on the circuit to date, surpassing his previous personal best of 154 set in 2018.

“It means a lot and I’m so proud of my team,” said Brown. “They’ve worked hard from the beginning of the year to the end of the year. They’re an outstanding group of men and women who have various skillsets they bring to our team. We have a lot of loyal clients and partners, and of course, the horses. So many different horses in so many categories really came through for us, so we feel very fortunate to work with these horses.”

Brown’s NYRA record of 587-159-108-81 includes 27 graded stakes victories in New York, led by Grade 1 triumphs with Jack Christopher [Woody Stephens presented by Mohegan Sun; H. Allen Jerkens Memorial], Regal Glory [Longines Just a Game], In Italian [Diana, giving Brown a record seventh victory in that event], Blazing Sevens [Champagne], Goodnight Olive [Ballerina Handicap], McKulick [Belmont Oaks Invitational], Bleecker Street [New York], and Tribhuvan [Resorts World Casino Manhattan]. 

“We had a very diverse group of horses and my team showed that they are able to execute equally as good with turf or dirt horses,” said Brown. “We won with dirt sprinters, route grass horses, male and female. They showed versatility and there’s not too many teams that can continue to [perform at this level] with any kind of horse.”

Brown’s 159 wins garnered four meet titles this year at NYRA, taking home top honors at the Aqueduct spring, the Belmont spring/summer meet [where he posted a record 47 victories], the Saratoga summer meet and the Belmont at the Big A fall meet. He completed the year with total purse earnings of $17,900,030. 

“Winning the Saratoga meet again was a highlight because my team put so much into it,” said Brown. “It means a lot to them. We had several Grade 1 wins, and going down the line, there’s so many memorable moments. Jack Christopher; winning the Diana again and setting the record there; the Just a Game. There were so many great moments at NYRA.”

Brown, who stables horses year-round at NYRA and is among the last trainers to leave Saratoga’s Oklahoma training track each fall, praised the amenities available to him and his team at each NYRA facility. 

“I’d like to thank the management at NYRA,” said Brown. “There’s a huge project going on with the reconstruction at Belmont and through it all, management has really gone out of their way to provide safe racing and training surfaces for our horses, and a good environment to train. We continue to have really great success training and racing at NYRA, and it takes an army to do that, led at the top by Dave O’Rourke and his great team, Glen Kozak [Sr. VP of Operations and Capital Projects], Frank Gabriel [Sr. VP of Racing Operations] in the racing office with his team – these people are outstanding to work with. They make sure my clients are satisfied with what races are offered. It takes so many people behind the scenes between NYRA and my barns.” 

Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher finished in second with a record of 495-110-74-74 while Linda Rice finished third with a record of 479-83-87-75. 

The year’s leading owner, Seth Klarman’s Klaravich Stables, secured its fourth consecutive year-end title with 57 victories, posting a record of 228-57-47-29 with total purses of $6,148,551. Klaravich enjoyed a win rate of 25 percent with an in-the-money rate of 58.33 percent. 

Klaravich and Brown teamed up for graded victories this year at NYRA with McKulick [Grade 1 Belmont Oaks Invitational; Grade 3 Jockey Club Oaks Invitational], Technical Analysis [Grade 2 Ballston Spa], Search Results [Grade 2 Ruffian], Consumer Spending [Grade 2 Wonder Again], Gerrymander [Grade 2 Mother Goose], Faith in Humanity [Grade 3 Pebbles] and Early Voting [Grade 3 Withers], who used the New York path to the Triple Crown to claim victory in this year’s Grade 1 Preakness. 

Brown praised Klarman’s dedication to his horses both on and off the racetrack. 

“He is very deserving of this title once again,” said Brown. “He’s very involved and is a great partner that helped me manage the stable. He’s a great sport, and most of all, he puts his horses first. We have not only won a lot of great races together, but he has also always made it clear that our first priority is to put the horses first; not only resting our current horses and not pushing them, but additionally, placing several horses in second careers throughout the year. That’s always his priority.” 

Michael Dubb finished second in the standings with a record of 225-50-34-25. Repole Stable finished third with a 170-35-21-24 record. 

Jockey Dylan Davis celebrated his first year-end riding title on the NYRA circuit for a year in which he guided 186 horses to victory. Davis, 28, earned his first meet riding title at the 2021-22 Aqueduct winter meet and enjoyed his best year on the circuit to date, posting a record of 1160-186-171-180.

“It feels great,” said Davis. “I’m grateful and honored and couldn’t have done it without the horses, the trainers, the owners, my agent Mike [Migliore]. We’ve been working hard and sticking it out on the NYRA circuit. Everything is coming together and we’re just going to push on and try for a better year next year.” 

Among Davis’ wins this year were two graded triumphs at NYRA, guiding Glass Ceiling to victory in the Grade 3 Distaff Handicap in April at the Big A and Boppy O to a 23-1 upset score in the Grade 3 With Anticipation in August at Saratoga Race Course. In all, Davis earned 13 stakes victories this year at NYRA tracks. 

Davis noted his victory aboard Al Shira’aa Farm’s Miss Dracarys in the Forever Together as a special moment during his prosperous year. 

“That filly of Al Shira’aa’s was great,” said Davis. “I had won my first Grade 1 for them at Woodbine, so that win was special. I also won three stakes for Mark Casse at Saratoga, and that’s great. A win is very tough at Saratoga, let alone a stakes race.” 

With $12,367,369 in total purse earnings, Davis enjoyed a win rate of 16.03 percent and an in-the-money percentage of 46.29. 

Manny Franco finished a close second with a record of 1081-175-151-157 while Irad Ortiz, Jr. finished in third with a record of 704-155-132-106.

The 2022 Aqueduct fall meet also concluded Saturday when the remainder of the nine-race card was canceled after Race 5 due to dense fog, as jockey Kendrick Carmouche secured his third NYRA meet riding title. The native of Vinton, L.A. concluded the fall meet with 34 wins, three better than Dylan Davis in second with Manny Franco finishing third [27 wins]. 

“I love riding and the trainers put me on some good horses,” said Carmouche. “I have to give my thanks to the owners and trainers, and especially God. He kept me safe this year. My family kept pushing me to keep striving for better this year. I’m just very pleased at the way my career keeps getting better and better. The title helps you know that things are going the right way.” 

Carmouche’s fall meet victories include a win in the Atlantic Beach aboard Vacation Dance, and graded scores in the Grade 3 Turnback the Alarm Handicap [Battle Bling], the Grade 3 Comely [Sixtythreecaliber] and Grade 2 Red Smith [Astronaut]. He earned $2,175,002 in total purses through a record of 179-34-27-21, posting a win rate of 18.99 percent and in-the-money rate of 45.81 percent. 

“Winning that stake for Tom Albertrani with Astronaut was a good victory for me,” Carmouche said of the Red Smith. “I’m glad the owners kept me on the horse and we got the job done.” 

Carmouche said winning the fall meet title is bittersweet for him and his valet, Rodney Paine, who lost his father earlier this fall. 

“I want to give the honor to Rodney, my valet. This is for his dad and for him,” said Carmouche. “They mean a lot to me and they’re part of the family. He deserves this honor more than anything.” 

Trainer Linda Rice finished on top in both the trainers standings [20 wins] and owners standings [10 wins]. Rice, who posted a training record of 93-20-23-13, secured the eighth training title of her career and first since the 2020 Aqueduct winter meet. 

Among Rice’s victories was an open-company score with barn favorite Betsy Blue in the $120,000 Garland of Roses on December 10 at the Big A. 

Chad Brown finished the fall meet in second with a record of 58-15-12-6 with Rob Atras finishing third with a 51-13-8-9 record. 

As leading owner, Rice enjoyed a record of 33-10-6-2, earning $342,562 in purses with a win percentage of 30.30 and in-the-money rate of 54.55 percent. She finished four wins ahead of Ten Strike Racing in second and five victories ahead of Klaravich Stables and Michael Dubb, who tied for third with five wins each. 

The 2023 Aqueduct winter meet kicks off on Sunday with a nine-race card, featuring the $150,000 Ladies in Race 3. First post is 12:20 p.m. Eastern. The 44-day meet, which will feature 25 stakes worth $3.2 million in purses, will see live racing conducted on a Thursday-Sunday schedule through February 12. From Friday, February 17 through the end of the winter meet, live racing will be held Friday-Sunday, with the addition of a special Presidents’ Day card on Monday, February 20. 

America's Day at the Races will present live coverage and analysis of the Aqueduct winter 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 best way to bet every race of the Aqueduct Racetrack winter meet. Available to horse players nationwide, the NYRA Bets app is available for download today on iOS and Android at www.NYRABets.com.