Manny Franco bested all other jockeys to win the equestrian title at the race Water racetrack spring meet, posting 28 wins in the 16-day meet that ran from April 4 to April 28.
The 29-year-old native of Carolina, Puerto Rico, earned a repeat victory and third overall title at the meet after winning the Big A title last spring with 37 wins and the 2019 title with 18 win.
Franco leads with 8 wins over Dylan Davis (20 wins) and Jose Lezcano is third with 18 wins. It was the 11th riding title at the NYRA meet for Franco, who was also the leading rider on the NYRA circuit in 2018 (244 wins), 2019 (212 wins) and 2023 (238 wins).
Franco, who is represented by agent John Panagot, said: “It feels great to be back on top. “I am very grateful and happy to be in this position. I want to thank all the coaches, owners and everyone who has made this possible.”
He posted a record of 28-15-13 from 95 starts at the meet, including a winning Times Square stakes aboard Antonio of Venice for coach Rudy Rodriguez, and Dangerous hour for trainer Chad Brown aboard the tugboat New York Spirit of Saint Louis , who set a new inside turf record of 1:33.57 for the mile. In total, Franco’s mount has earned $1,538,164 for a win rate of 29.47% and an in-the-money rate of 58.95%.
Franco said he was grateful to have ridden both Antonio of Venice and Spirit of St Louis at the meet.
“It’s been great—it’s been a long year, so hopefully they keep it up and keep doing what they do,” Franco said. That’s why I’m here.” “The spirit of St Louis is great—it’s a big barn and a big opportunity, and I just try to make the most of it. I try to do good and the horses have helped me a lot with a lot of So much talent. I’m just happy to be a part of it.”
Linda Rice won a close battle with Chad Brown to win the training title at the meet with 18 wins.
“We’re focused on the New York race and my staff has done a great job — my assistants, Marsha Barrs, Jose Meza, Mauricio Gonzalez, we have a great team and They worked extremely hard all winter long.” . “I’m very happy that we achieved such good results.”
Rice, 60, won his 15th training title at the NYRA meet and seventh in the last eight NYRA meets, along with a year-end title last year as the top trainer of the circuit with a record of 164 wins. This is her fifth spring Big A title, adding to wins in 2011-12, 2017 and 2023.
She posted a record of 18-9-13 from 67 starts with earnings of $806,545, good for a win rate of 26.87 percent and an in-the-money rate of 59.70 percent. Her top wins include scores at allowance level with ranked stakes winners Joey’s soft drink who got the 105 Beyer Speed Figure in victory and with the stake Everyone loveslinda .
Rice said she was pleased with the performance of both horses and that Joey Freshwater will now be assigned to the $175,000 Runhappy (G3) on May 11 at Belmont at Big A.
“Everyone lovedlinda, and strangely enough, I tried not to declare it for two years because of her name, but then I had to marry her,” Rice said with a laugh. “Joey Freshwater was riding the Beyer 105 in that ‘other three’ and we were headed to Runhappy. It’s been a great winter, a great spring and the water is getting deeper. We’ll see if we can What .”
Brown is second with 16 wins while Rudy Rodriguez is third with 10 wins.
Seth Klarman’s Klaravich Stables won their 26th owner’s title at the NYRA meeting and fifth spring Big A title, posting a 7-5-1 record from 18 starts and earnings of $480,960 to become the top Big A spring owner for the third straight year. Their wins include winning the bet with Reasonable analysis at Bay Shore, as well as a strong ancillary win with the stakes Buy an asset Been out of work for almost a year.
Winning Move Stable was second with six wins while Rice and Michael Dubb were third with five wins each.
This press release has been edited for content and style by BloodHorse Staff.
