Saratoga: Pletcher, Castellano, Ramseys win meet titles

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – There never was any real suspense in the race for leading owner, trainer, and jockey at the sesquicentennial Saratoga meet. On Sunday, one day before the meet ended, the leaders in those categories were honored in a ceremony in the winner’s circle following the seventh race.

Ken and Sarah Ramsey have won 22 races, setting a single-meet record at Saratoga, 11 more than Darley Stable and Drawing Away. The Ramseys had horses in three of Monday’s 10 races.

Todd Pletcher won his 10th Saratoga trainers’ title and his fourth straight. He ended Sunday’s card with 35 wins, three short of his 2011 record of 38, and has horses entered in five races Monday. Chad Brown was second with 24 wins.

Javier Castellano won his first Saratoga riding title. After three more wins Sunday, Castellano had 61 heading into closing day, 16 more than John Velazquez.

“The leading jockey title at Saratoga is special for anyone; any jockey would want to win this title,” Castellano said. “I’m very proud to participate with the best jockeys in the country.”

Castellano acknowledged that he was aided by Joel Rosario breaking his foot Aug. 23, ending his meet. At the time, Castellano led Rosario by seven winners.

“I think it would have been a good match,” Castellano said. “I feel bad for him.”

Castellano has won 17 races for Chad Brown at this meet and six for Pletcher, including the Alabama Stakes and Coaching Club American Oaks on Princess of Sylmar.

The Alabama and Coaching Club were two of four Grade 1 wins and 14 stakes victories overall for Pletcher, who also won 14 stakes in 2011. He won five Grade 1 races in 2010.

“Top to bottom, it was maybe our most well-rounded meet,” Pletcher said. “All the horses ran well; would have loved to have topped it off with the Travers, but that one slipped away from us.”

Pletcher said winning his first Saratoga trainers’ title in 1998 was “one of those fist-pump moments, and then when you get to 10, it’s more time to reflect a little bit and kind of appreciate the entire body of work.”

There will be little time to reflect for Pletcher, who will be at Keeneland on Friday to begin looking at yearlings who will be possible 2-year-old prospects for him to run up here next summer.

Ken Ramsey won the owners’ title in 2008-09 and made it a priority to win it again this year, ending Mike Repole’s three-year reign at the top. When Saturday Nthe Park won Sunday’s sixth race, it was the Ramseys’ 22nd win of the meet.“Very happy; couldn’t be more pleased,” Ken Ramsey said. “Twenty-two – that’s a great number to hang up anyplace, especially a place like Saratoga.”