Contessa breaks own mark

Gary Contessa broke his own record for wins by a trainer at an Aqueduct inner-track meet when he saddled three of the first four winners on Friday, giving him 73 for the winter session. In 2006-07, Contessa established the previous mark with 72 wins.

Contessa went on to win another race on Friday's card, marking the second time in three weeks that a trainer has won four races on an Aqueduct card. Bruce Levine won four on Feb. 29.

Contessa credited his owners, specifically Steve Sigler's Winning Move Stable.

"He's constantly upgrading his stable and his constant upgrading makes me look good," Contessa said of Sigler. "I owe a lot of it to him and all my owners."

Two of Contessa's winners on Friday were for Winning Move, which leads all owners at this meet with 48 winners from 205 starters. At last year's meet, Winning Move won 39 races from 152 starters.

On Friday, Contessa trained 10 of the 65 horses who ran on the card. On Friday, Contessa trained 10 of the 65 horses who ran on the card. He swept the early double with Fort Carillon ($4.20) and Battingstar ($5.60). After finishing second in the third with Mafietta, Contessa won the fourth with Glowing Image ($3.80). Contessa also won the nightcap with Mr. Park Avenue ($5.80).

Ramon Dominguez rode three of Contessa's winners and has 111 wins for the meet, also an inner-track record.

With six cards remaining on the inner track, Contessa maintained a 74-45 lead over Levine.