Final Saratoga Numbers Dip Slightly: Ortiz Jr., Repole Top Meet, Pletcher and Brown Tie

[Wandering Eyes]

It was another memorable meet at Saratoga, which ended its 2025 season Monday having generated paid attendance exceeding one million fans for the 10th straight year. However, that wasn't enough to avoid a small decrease in all-sources handle.

The total handle at the meet was $791,129,471, off just a tick from 2024's handle of $803,806,984. Total on-track average daily handle was virtually even with 2024 figures, $19,778,237 versus $20,610,435.

“Saratoga is special in many ways, but it is the enthusiastic support from fans and horseplayers that transforms this historic venue into a summer long celebration of the sport,” said David O'Rourke, NYRA President and CEO in a statement. “We thank each and every fan who visited Saratoga Race Course throughout the season, and all those who watched and wagered from home thanks to the expansive television coverage on FOX Sports. NYRA applauds the owners, trainers and jockeys for participating here in New York, and the members of the backstretch community whose dedication and skill are the backbone of racing.”

The fans and bettors definitely turned out for the two biggest days of the meet. A record $49,651,341 was bet on the GI Whitney Stakes card. On the GI Travers card, $54,309,929 was wagered. That was the third highest amount ever wagered on a single day in the history of the summer meet.

NYRA ran 420 races this year at Saratoga as compared to 412 last year. Mother Nature was reasonably cooperative as 33 races came off the turf versus 45 last year.

Despite not riding on closing day because he was banged up in the spill that took place in Sunday's GI Jockey Club Gold Cup, Irad Ortiz Jr. was the leading rider at the meet with 59 wins. His brother, Jose, was second with 55. Flavien Pat was next with 42.

Irad Ortiz Jr. is expected to ride Thursday at Kentucky Downs. This was Ortiz's fourth straight riding title at the primary Saratoga meets.

“It's his ability, but also his mentality–he wants to win every race,” said Ortiz Jr.'s agent Steve Rushing. “He's so competitive. He's an all-around rider.

“He's had an amazing meet, for sure,” Rushing added. “You want to win any meet you're competing in, but Saratoga is extra special.”

The leading trainer title was shared by Todd Pletcher and Chad Brown, both of whom had 32 winners. It was Brown's fifth straight training title and the first for Pletcher since 2020. Linda Rice was third at the meet, with 24 winners. Pletcher had two winners Monday, including the GI Hopeful Stakes with Ted Noffey (Into Mischief). Brown had one winner on the card, knotting things up in the last race of the day.

“I'm happy to salvage a tie with Todd and hat's off to his team–they just had an outstanding meet,” Brown said. “I'm really proud of my team. The highlights of the meet were the Diana [won with Excellent Truth] and the Whitney [won by Sierra Leone]–particularly the Whitney. Here's a race we'd never won before, and the Diana is a race that's been so important to my career [record 10th win]. Winning those two races was really at the top of the list.”

Pletcher added, “A great finish to the meet, and I'm very proud of the whole team and all the work they've done. It's great to see it pay off and the horses were running well. It was exciting to watch. Chad and his team do a great job and they're tough to beat at any meet, especially this one.”

Mike Repole's Repole Stable earned the owners' title with 14 wins, notching their first title at a NYRA meeting since taking the 2021 Aqueduct winter meet in a tie with Michael Dubb. Repole last won the owners' title at Saratoga from 2010-12 and was New York's leading owner in 2009.

“Winning at Saratoga is always special, but winning 14 races and having Mike win leading owner for the fourth time at such a prestigious meet is truly incredible,” said Danielle Bricker, assistant racing manager for Repole Stable. “None of this happens without a true team effort from Repole Stable; trainers, jockeys, backstretch workers, and all of the farms. Everyone plays such an important role. We're so grateful for the fans who cheered our horses on every step of the way this meet. As Mike always says, 'think big, dream bigger!'”

Repole Stable completed the meet with a 61-14-11-8 record and $1,123,270 in earnings. Klaravich Stables finished second with 11 wins while Flying P Stable was third with nine wins.

The unofficial horse of the meet was clearly Sovereignty (Into Mischief), who locked down his hold on the 3-year-old male divisions with wins in the GII Jim Dandy and the GI Travers. Honorable mention goes to New Jersey-bred start Book 'em Danno (Bucchero) won who three stakes at Saratoga this year. However, his first, the GIII True North Stakes, took place at the Belmont Stakes-at-Saratoga meet in early June. He then went on to win the GII Alfred G. Vanderbilt Stakes and the GI Forego Stakes during the primary Saratoga meet.

From a safety standpoint, the meet did not end well. Black Silver (Slumber {GB}) was euthanized after pulling up in Saturday's second race. Black Silver was the fifth equine racing fatality of the meet and the second of the Labor Day weekend as fellow first-time starter Catchy (Medaglia d'Oro) was also euthanized on Friday after suffering an injury during her gallop out.

Live racing returns to New York on Thursday, Sept. 11 when the 32-day fall Belmont at Aqueduct meet kicks off. Forty-five stakes worth $9.45 million in total purses and will include four Grade I's and five Breeders' Cup “Win and You're In” qualifiers.

 

The post Final Saratoga Numbers Dip Slightly: Ortiz Jr., Repole Top Meet, Pletcher and Brown Tie appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

View the full article