Laurel: Ortiz, McMahon finish atop standings at winter meet
Apprentice rider Yomar Ortiz and trainer Hugh McMahon finished atop the standings for the winter meet at Laurel Park that ended Saturday.
Ortiz, 21, topped the jockey standings with 57 first-place finishes, six more than fellow apprentice Trevor McCarthy. Ortiz had 16 multiple win days during the meet, including four three-win afternoons.
“It was a battle until the end,” Ortiz said. “Trevor McCarthy was winning races at a high rate and it wasn’t settled into the last couple days.”
Ortiz won races for 19 different trainers, including 16 for McMahon, who topped the trainer standings with 34 winners, 17 more than Mike Trombetta and Juan Vazquez. McMahon, a former rider and longtime assistant to Scott Lake, won races at a 32 percent rate.
“Amazing,” McMahon said. “I was speaking to someone this morning about people winning at such a ridiculous rate. You don’t ever think that is going to be you. I am thankful to be in this place. We have been blessed.”
The McMahon barn had seven multiple win afternoons, including three-win days on Jan. 19 and Feb. 6.
The Jim Stable of King Leatherbury topped the owner standings with 12 victories. Leatherbury finished fourth in the trainer standings with 15 winners from 64 starters.
Live racing in Maryland shifts to Pimlico on Thursday for the 36-day spring meeting, headlined by the 138th running of the $1 million Preakness Stakes on May 18.