Dylan Davis, Chad Brown win Belmont at Aqueduct meet titles

Photo:

Sue Kawczynski / Eclipse Sportswire

Jockey Dylan Davis, in the midst of a career-best campaign, picked up his third individual meet title on the New York Racing Association circuit by leading all jockeys with 44 wins at the 2024 Belmont at the Big A fall meet.

The Manhasset, N.Y. native, who captured the Aqueduct winter meet title earlier this year, also captured the Aqueduct winter meet title in 2022 en route to being the NYRA circuit’s leading rider that year with 186 wins. Davis has already captured 177 NYRA wins in 2024 ahead of the upcoming 26-day Aqueduct fall meet which spans Thursday through Dec. 29.

Davis, who is represented by agent Michael Migliore, credited his many wins to the hard-trying horses he climbs aboard each day.

“Mike is an incredible agent and he works hard at what he does, and we work together very well,” Davis said. “I also have to thank all the horses for running their ‘A’ game efforts every time as well as all the owners and trainers that give me these opportunities. I’m really happy to have won another title – it’s a privilege and an honor and a validation of all the hard work of previous years in getting to this point today.”

Davis posted a record of 211: 44-31-27 at the 2024 Belmont at the Big A fall meet, which ran from September 13 through November 3, topped by graded-stakes scores with Tapit Trice in the Woodward (G2) for Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher, Beautiful Love in the Jockey Club Oaks Invitational (G3) for internationally renowned conditioner Charlie Appleby, the Christophe Clement-conditioned Carson’s Run in the Jockey Club Derby Invitational (G3), Andthewinneris in the Knickerbocker (G3) for four-time Eclipse Award-winning trainer Chad Brown and Abientot in the Matron (G3) for Hall of Fame trainer Mark Casse.

He also captured the Iroquois with Cara’s Time on last Sunday’s Empire Showcase Day card and continued his good run of form this weekend here with scores in Saturday’s Artie Schiller with Running Bee and Tempted with Stunner.

Davis is enjoying a momentous year having already reached a career-best $14.1 million in purse earnings. He is on pace to surpass his career-best 195 wins secured in 2022. The veteran rider noted the Clement-trained Carson’s Run, who he guided to victory in the Saratoga Derby Invitational (G1) this summer, as being a particularly special horse – one he hopes to guide to victory later this month in the Hollywood Derby (G1) on Nov. 30 at Del Mar.

“There’s a lot of good horses I’ve been riding, and I like them all, but Carson’s Run is a special horse for me. We get along together well and he’s always a joy to ride,” Davis said. “He ran very well over here in the Jockey Club Derby. He gave me my first Grade 1 at Saratoga and he’s a very special horse. I’ve been working him every week and he’s a pleasure to ride.

“I’ve been continuing to get on better horses and I’m happy that everyone is able to see that,” Davis added. “It’s been a big step up from previous years.”

Davis’ mounts banked in excess of $3.7 million at the meet, good for a win rate of 20.85 percent and in-the-money percentage of 48.34. Kendrick Carmouche finished second with 34 wins, while Manny Franco finished third with 27.

Four-time Eclipse Award-winning trainer Chad Brown won his 33rd training title at a NYRA meet and 13th consecutive Belmont fall title when leading all trainers with 31 wins. Brown, 45, posted a record of 118-31-14-17.

Brown’s stakes triumphs at the meet included graded wins with Chancer McPatrick in the Champagne (G1), Zulu Kingdom in the Pilgrim (G2), Ways and Means in the Gallant Bloom (G2), Raging Sea in the Beldame (G2), Spaliday in the Sands Point (G2) and Andthewinneris in the Knickerbocker (G3). He also added listed stakes scores with Child of the Moon in the Athenia, Valuation Metric in the Awad, Opulent Restraint in the Chelsey Flower and Running Bee in the Artie Schiller to go along with a victory by Spirit of St Louis in the Mohawk on Empire Showcase Day.

Brown’s horses banked in excess of $2.9 million with a win rate of 26.27 percent and in-the-money rate of 52.54 percent.

Linda Rice finished second with 18 wins while Christophe Clement and Brad Cox tied for third with 13 wins.

Seth Klarman’s Klaravich Stables notched 11 wins to secure their 29th owners’ title on the NYRA circuit, posting a record of 44-11-5-5 with total purse earnings of $904,614. Michael Dubb finished second (eight wins) and Sanford J. Goldfarb (seven wins) finished third.

Among Klaravich Stables’ wins were stakes scores by the aforementioned Brown trainees Ways and Means and Valuation Metric.

Live racing resumes Thursday at Aqueduct Racetrack for the eight-race Opening Day card of the Aqueduct fall meet which will offer 26 stakes, nine of them graded events, worth a total of $5.33 million. First post Thursday is 12:10 p.m. Eastern.