Thistledown track report

NORTH RANDALL, Ohio - The race for leading trainer at this Summit meeting may not be decided until the dust settles after Friday's last race. Gary Johnson has a one-winner edge, 12-11, over Jerry Hollendorfer. Rodney Faulkner and Jeff Radosevich are nipping at their heels with 10 wins each.

Johnson holds the record for most meet titles at Thistledown, with 23.

Hollendorfer's assistant, Kenneth Butch Marshall, has been very selective in regards to spotting his horses. Their 11 wins have come from just 23 starters.

Huber Villa-Gomez tops the jockey standings with 24 wins; he was Thistledown's leading rider in 2003 while capturing the Randall and Cranwood meets. Villa-Gomez has a comfortable 24-15 edge over Daniel Centeno, who began his U.S. riding career last summer at Thistledown. Julio Felix and Luis Gonzalez are tied for third with 14 wins.

Mark Yagour is in first place in the race for leading owner. He has eight winners, one better than Faulkner. Richaleen Turpin and Jack Boggs are tied for third with six wins each.

* Jockey Luis Gonzalez was selected by the Thistledown riding colony as the winner of the first annual Michael F. Rowland Memorial Jockey Award, to be presented Sept. 17 at Turfway Park. Greg Schmitz, Turfway Park's general manager, presented a plaque to Gonzalez last Saturday in the Thistledown winner's circle.

* Nominations for the Grade 2, $350,000 Ohio Derby close on May 26. The 1 1/8-mile fixture for 3-year-olds will have its 70th running on June 12.

* Last weekend was a big one for the Felicianos. Trainer Miguel saddled three winners, and his brother Benny had one. Jockey Ricardo - Benny's son and Miguel's nephew - had five winners for the week and a three-bagger on Saturday.