Clement takes trainer's title for Aqueduct fall meet

OZONE PARK, N.Y. - Christophe Clement won his first trainer’s title on the New York Racing Association circuit, taking the Aqueduct fall meet title with 16 wins, one more than trainer Todd Pletcher. Aqueduct’s 18-day fall meet concluded Sunday.

The title comes after Clement finished second in both the Belmont spring and fall meets and tied for third at Saratoga.

“I consider myself a New Yorker, so I’m delighted, but overall I thought it was a really good year from the spring to the fall,” Clement said. “Even if we did not win the Belmont spring or the Saratoga title or the Belmont fall we were very competitive at every single meet. I’m very proud of the horses we have, I’m very proud of my staff and nothing would have happened without the great support from my owners.”

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Clement won 16 races from 52 starters including four stakes. His horses at the meet earned $851,754. Pletcher finished with 15 wins from 54 starters and earnings a meet-best $916,749. Following Pletcher were Rudy Rodriguez (8 wins), Linda Rice (7), Chad Brown (6) and Wayne Potts (6).

Clement, a native of France, began training on the NYRA circuit in 1991.

Seth Klarman’s Klaravich Stables and Mike Repole finished tied for leading owner with five wins apiece. Barry Schwartz was third with four wins. Windylea Farm, Drawing Away Stable, Reeves Thoroughbred Racing, and Nice Guys Stables each had three wins.

The 56-day Aqueduct winter meet begins Thursday and runs through March 28.