Trainer Linda Rice Wins Title In Final Race

First Published: 22 April 2012

Thisskysabeauty rallied past Atitlan in mid-stretch under Cornelio Velasquez to win a $16,000 claiming race and give Linda Rice the meet trainer title outright, 13-12, over Rudy Rodriguez. Richard Dutrow Jr., who got beat a nose with Uncle T Seven in the Fabersham, finished with 11 wins.

The win capped a huge weekend for Rice, who won four races on Saturday. This was Rice’s fourth trainer title on the New York Racing Association circuit, and her second outright. She won the 2010 Saratoga meet, tied David Jacobson for the 2011 Aqueduct spring title and tied Todd Pletcher for the 2011 Belmont spring/summer title.

“I think winning the title at Saratoga would be my best memory in racing ever, but to tie or win Aqueduct, Belmont to me it means a lot,” Rice said. “You have to show consistency. As Wayne Lukas told me a long time ago, getting to the top is a lot easier than staying there.”

Velasquez won the jockey title with 24 wins. David Cohen finished second with 20 followed by Eddie Castro (18).

Racing on this circuit moves to Belmont beginning Friday.