Lezcano wins Belmont riding title; Brown repeats as leading trainer

ELMONT, N.Y. – Jose Lezcano’s decision to stay in New York last winter continues to pay dividends this spring and summer as he captured the Belmont Park riding title with 44 victories, one more than Luis Saez.

Jose Ortiz finished third in the standings with 40 wins, one more than his brother Irad Ortiz Jr. and Joel Rosario, who tied for fourth with 39 wins apiece.

Lezcano’s $3.34 million in purse earnings were fourth-best behind Rosario, who had $4.22 million, aided largely by his victory aboard Sir Winston in the Belmont Stakes.

For Lezcano, his 44 victories are two more than he recorded over the previous three Belmont spring/summer meets combined.

“It means a lot to me. I’m so glad the owners and trainers helped me,” Lezcano said. “Luis did a good job; he’s riding great. We’re both doing good.”

Lezcano and agent Jason Beides elected not to go to Gulfstream Park for the winter meet and stayed in New York to ride at Aqueduct. Lezcano won 54 races during the winter meet (fourth in the standings) and was the second-leading rider at Aqueduct’s brief spring meet with 15 winners.

At Belmont, Lezcano rode 33 winners in the first 28 days of the meet and 11 over the last 20. He saved his best for last, getting Henley’s Joy home in Saturday’s Grade 1, $1 million Belmont Derby Invitational.

Lezcano hopes he can carry the momentum of his first riding title to the Saratoga meet, which opens Thursday.

“You go into the new meet with confidence, try to ride better horses and see what happens,” Lezcano said.

Meanwhile, Chad Brown won his fourth consecutive Belmont spring/summer trainers’ title with 38 wins, 18 of them in stakes. Brown also led all trainers in purse money won with $5.4 million.

Following Brown in wins were Rudy Rodriguez and Todd Pletcher, with 19 apiece, and Linda Rice and Jeremiah Englehart, with 18 each.

Seth Klarman’s Klaravich Stables was the leading owner with 12 victories. Michael Dubb (9), Three Diamonds Farm (9), Peter Brant (8), and Mike Repole (6) rounded out the top five.