Catalano Breaks Own Mark for Arlington Wins

(from Arlington Park notes)
Wayne Catalano, Arlington Park's leading conditioner in three of the last four years, saddled three winners Friday to break the mark he established three years ago for training victories in a season at the Chicago track.

When Catalano won the opening race on Friday's program with Frank Calabrese's Stormy Seas – ridden by this summer's jockey champion Shaun Bridgmohan – Catalano tied his mark of 64 winners set during the 2002 racing season when Arlington ran a 107-day meeting.

Catalano returned to the winner's circle following Friday's seventh with Calabrese's It's Handsome I Am, ridden by Jerry La Sala, to break the mark during this summer's 94-day session.

"I'd like to thank my owner," said Catalano during winner's circle ceremonies. "This wouldn't have been possible without Mr. Calabrese letting me run my horses where they belong."

Catalano later saddled Calabrese's One Other Than, with Bridgmohan aboard once again, to win Friday's final race.

Catalano, 49, a native of New Orleans, has horses entered in four races Saturday and four more on Sunday, the last day of the current meeting.

Now seventh on the list of Arlington's all-time leading trainers, Catalano has 497 Arlington winners. The still-active Richard Hazelton, winner of Arlington's "Lifetime Achievement Award" this season, ranks as Arlington's leading conditioner of all-time with 1,149 local winners through Friday.

(Chart, Equibase)