Laurel Park: Ness takes trainer title, Rodriguez earns rider crown
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Trainer Jamie Ness and jockey Jaime Rodriguez ended Laurel Park’s winter meet with a flourish when 6-year-old mare Lady Zeta got the bob to win the final race on Sunday, giving Ness the trainer title and Rodriguez the rider crown.
It was the seventh time each has earned their respective title at Laurel.
Ness would have clinched his training title with plenty of time to spare if not for trainer Brittany Russell, who has been a fierce competitor for several seasons. Russell entered the final weekend trailing by one win and was tied with Ness at 23 victories by the end of the Friday card. Making the most of his remaining races, Ness finished with 27 wins in 98 starts while Russell finished with 23 wins in 58 starts.
"We got a couple yesterday and a couple today and ended up four in front," Ness said. "We had more horses than she had, and the horses that we had ran good."
While the title race between Ness and Russell came down to the final weekend, Rodriguez had his riding title virtually locked up for weeks. One of just four jockeys to ride in more than 100 races this meet, Rodriguez earned 38 victories in 161 starts. It was his third straight riding title at the winter meet.
Trailing Rodriguez in the jockey standings was J.G. Torrealba at second with 21 victories in 139 starts. With just 59 mounts, Sheldon Russell was close behind with 19 wins.
Since Rodriguez made his first start at Laurel in 2020, he and Ness have enjoyed considerable success together. With his riding title well in hand, assisting the trainer became the jockey’s priority in the closing stages of the meet.
"It was a little bit tight in the beginning because Brittany's got really nice horses and we were battling to the end," Rodriguez said. "[Ness] always throws something in at the end, though, and we ended up getting the title. We have nice teamwork."
In 75 starts together at this winter meet, the duo shared 23 victories, including a stakes win with 4-year-old gelding Speedyness in the $100,000 John B. Campbell Stakes.
"It's a big advantage for me," Ness said of working with Rodriguez. "Every time I leg him up, I feel like I have the advantage because I have the best rider."
Ness finished second behind Russell in 2023 and 2024.
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