For the third year in a row, Todd Pletcher has topped the year-end
standings for earnings by trainer, establishing a new mark by accumulating $27,640,243
in earnings in 2006. The New York-based trainer shattered
his 2005 earnings record by nearly $6 million.
Saddling 1,170 horses, Pletcher also surpassed a pair of 19-year-old single
season records established by his mentor, D. Wayne Lukas. The 39-year-old
conditioner set a new
mark with a total of 100 stakes victories, eight more than Lukas, and captured a
record 57 graded stakes, including 17 Grade 1s. His best horses included Fleet
Indian (Indian Charlie), English Channel (Smart Strike), Wait A While (Maria’s
Mon), Bluegrass Cat (Storm Cat), Honey Ryder (Lasting Approval), Circular
Quay (Thunder Gulch) and Scat Daddy (Johannesburg).
Garrett Gomez, who won at a 21 percent rate, led all jockeys with $21,922,592
in earnings in 2006. He shifted his tack from California to the East Coast during
the spring, becoming Pletcher’s first-call rider while John Velazquez was
briefly sidelined with a shoulder injury, but continued to raid big races from
coast to coast, leading all riders with 12 Grade 1 victories. The 35-year-old
pilot recorded major
wins aboard Discreet Cat
(Forestry), English Channel, Wait a While, Ashkal Way (Ire) (Ashkalani),
Circular Quay and
Sinister Minister (Old Trieste). Gomez capped a highly successful year with
the riding title at the recently concluded Hollywood Park meet.
INVASOR (Arg) (Candy
Stripes) wrapped up a likely Horse of the Year season with a resounding
one-length victory in the Breeder’s Cup Classic (G1), and the four-year-old colt
led all North American runners with $3,790,000 in earnings in 2006. Trained by
Kiaran McLaughlin, Invasor was unbeaten on American soil, also winning the Whitney
H. (G1), Suburban H. (G1) and Pimlico Special H. (G1). He’s being prepared for a
2007 campaign.
Scott Lake led all trainers in North America with 528 wins in 2006. With a 24
percent win rate, the 41-year-old conditioner also finished fourth nationally by
earnings. Julien Leparoux, who rode as apprentice until September, had the most
victories of any jockey, making 403 trips to the winner’s circle. First-call
rider for Patrick Biancone, the 23-year-old Frenchman plans to travel between
Turfway Park and Santa Anita this winter.
Maggie Moss, who is based in Des Moines, Iowa, was the most successful owner
by wins in 2006, capturing 211 races (28 percent win).