Trainer Todd Pletcher and owners Kenneth and Sarah Ramsey are joined by first-time winner Luis Saez as each was recognized Saturday as leaders of the 2016-2017 championship meet at Gulfstream Park. The 86-day stand wraps up Sunday in Hallandale Beach.
Pletcher retained his position at the top of the trainers' standings as he ran his streak to 14 straight dating back to 2004. The 49-year-old entered Saturday's action some 15 wins clear of Jorge Navarro and added to his total with All Included (Include)'s success in the GIII Appleton S. He saddled the winners of an additional five Grade III winners over the winter.
“You can't help when the streak gets up there that you think about it a little bit. We're happy to do it again. It's a big team effort, and we're proud of it,” Pletcher said. “It's been a great meet. We started off really well in December, and I've always said the Gulfstream program fits our stable well. We're fortunate to have a lot of nice horses and a lot of support, and it's been fun.”
Luis Saez finished runner-up to five-time defending champ Javier Castellano in each of the last two seasons, but managed to get over the hump in 2016-2017. The 24-year-old entered Saturday's action on 101 winners, just the third to eclipse the 100-win mark, joining Castellano and Paco Lopez. Saez was 12 clear of Lopez entering the weekend.
“I just came here to win races and try to work very hard. This year, Thank God, we got it,” Saez said. “Every horse that we had here we feel very happy about. Thank God we did good here.”
Always among the leaders no matter the venue, the Ramseys topped the standings at Gulfstream for the first consecutive season with 22 wins.
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