Ryan Fogelsonger rode four winners on Saturday's card and now leads the Laurel Park fall meeting by a commanding 28 victories. The 21-year old apprentice, who won the Pimlico summer/fall stand by 27 victories, has been aboard 77 winners in the first nine weeks of the meet.Fogelsonger also moved over the $4 million mark in earnings this afternoon and is easily outdistancing Francisco Duran and John McKee, the other top contenders for the Eclipse Award for outstanding apprentice, in the three major categories (wins, earnings & winning percentage). Fogelsonger now has 241 wins, $4 million in earnings, and 22 percent winners. Duran (186 wins, $2.9 million, 16 percent) and McKee (173 wins, $2.0 million, 19 percent) trail."This has been an amazing year," gushed Foglesonger, who began riding in late March but didn't get his first win until May 1. "I lay in bed every night and thank God because nobody could have guessed I would have had this kind of success after the rough start." It took the Silver Spring, MD, native nearly another month to get his fifth victory and officially begin his apprentice year. Since May 24, he has won 236 races and has moved into the top 15 in the nation in wins. "No matter what you think your horse looks like going into a race you have to ride with confidence," added Fogelsonger. "Some people might go out and just try to get around the track. I'm trying to be confident about every horse and sometimes you get around the track first on horses that aren't suppose to win."Fogelsonger rode winners in the 1st (Ninety Day Wonder, $6.40), 2nd (Torch The Halls, $10.40), 4th (Love Happy, $5.60) and 6th (Red Gem, $3.60). He has eight four win afternoons at Pimlico and Laurel this year plus a pair of five-victory days.
(Chart, Equibase)