Franco Secures First Saratoga Title as Summer Meets Conclude

The summer racing season concluded Monday with closing day at both Saratoga Race Course and the Del Mar Thoroughbred Club.

While jockey, trainer, and owner titles were settled before the final day, the conclusive statistics are now official.

Manny Franco’s Historic Summer at the Spa

Jockey Manny Franco, 31, from Puerto Rico, achieved his first career riding title at Saratoga. He captured four Grade 1 victories during the extended 45-day meet: the Christophe Clement Turf aboard Survie ($10.96), the Alabama with My Guns Loaded ($8.74), the Travers Stakes with Leading Change ($22.76), and the Hopeful Stakes aboard The Great Life ($7.14) on Sunday.

Franco secured the championship on Saturday with a victory aboard Mashallah ($2.96) in the Prioress Stakes (G3). He finished the meet with 73 wins, 49 seconds, and 59 thirds, achieving a 19.7% win rate and a 48.9% top-three finish rate.

The previous record for the standard 40-day meet was established in 2012 by retired jockey Ramon Dominguez, who amassed 68 victories.

“It feels unreal – I’m still in the sky,” Franco remarked after closing out the meet with a final victory aboard My Lil Army Girl ($10.10). “I work hard every day here, and when you work hard, you see the result. We’ve had many good chances with good horses, and I’m always trying to maximize these opportunities.”

Chad Brown Claims Ninth Training Title

Chad Brown won his ninth trainer’s title with 42 victories, narrowly defeating Linda Rice, who finished with 40 wins. Brown’s Grade 1 winners included Kathynmarissa in the Diana Stakes, Fully Subscribed in the Personal Ensign Stakes, Ways and Means in the Ballerina Stakes, and My Guns Loaded in the Alabama Stakes.

“It’s very rewarding,” Brown stated. “I want to thank my team, who do the majority of the work, and the jockeys who rode under tremendous pressure. This is the most challenging race meet to ride, and they truly came through for me.”

Klaravich Stables Earns Eighth Owners Title

Klaravich Stables, owned by Seth Klarman, claimed the owners’ title for the eighth time, largely due to Brown’s success. Among Klarman’s victories trained by Brown were The Ballerina (Ways and Means), the Personal Ensign (Fully Subscribed), and the Shuvee Stakes (G2) with Fully Subscribed.

The jockey competition remained tight until the final weekend. Flavien Prat finished second with 67 wins, followed by Jose Ortiz in third with 66 wins. Prat opted to ride in Kentucky on Monday, while Ortiz had ridden in Kentucky for most of the holiday weekend.

Another remarkable highlight of Franco’s stellar summer occurred on Aug. 7, when he tied a Saratoga single-day record for a jockey with six victories, highlighted by the Hall of Fame Stakes (G2) aboard Bottas.

Del Mar Winners: Joel Rosario, Doug O’Neill

At Del Mar, Hall of Famer Joel Rosario claimed his fourth riding title. Rosario held a lead of 42 wins heading into Monday’s final day, ahead of Juan Hernandez’s 35 wins. Doug O’Neill, a two-time Kentucky Derby winner, secured his seventh Del Mar summer meet trainer’s title, with 27 wins to Phil D’Amato’s 16 entering Monday. Reddam Racing also topped the standings with nine wins compared to Hronis Racing’s six entering the final card.

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