Irad Ortiz Jr. Wins Aqueduct Riding Title
Irad Ortiz Jr. added another riding crown to his résumé when he secured the Aqueduct Racetrack 2017 spring meet title following closing day April 23.
Michael Dubb
News, Articles, Videos and other content about Michael Dubb
Wake Forest Returns to Winning Ways in Mac Diarmida
- By Claire Novak
Wake Forest (GER) was given plenty of time to recover from his 2016 campaign by trainer Chad Brown, and the 7-year-old runner rewarded that patience March 4 with a narrow victory in the $200,000 Mac Diarmida Stakes (G2T) at Gulfstream Park.
Page McKenney Back for More at Laurel Park
Page McKenney drew post 3 in the General George and shares a 122-pound highweight impost with Heaven's Runway and Stallwalkin' Dude.
Heaven's Runway Upsets Fall Highweight
Heaven's Runway rallied from the far outside and overtook favorite Stallwalkin' Dude in deep stretch for his first graded stakes win in the $200,000 Fall Highweight (gr. III) Nov. 24 at Aqueduct Racetrack.
Dubb Finishes as Leading Owner at Belmont
Michael Dubb was securely perched atop the owner's standings to lock in the 2016 Belmont Park fall meet owner's title.
NYRA Reports Steady Saratoga Meet Numbers
The New York Racing Association concluded its 2016 season at Saratoga Race Course with all-sources handle of $647,322,503, virtually even with last year's record wagering that had shattered the previous high water mark by more than 10%.
'Crook' 50th Black-Type Winner for Freud
Freud, New York's current leading sire, gained his 50th black-type winner Aug. 26 when Fourstar Crook won the $150,000 Yaddo Stakes for New York-bred fillies and mares at Saratoga Race Course.
Jose Ortiz, Chad Brown Win Titles at Belmont
Belmont Park's spring/summer meet wrapped up July 17, with jockey Jose Ortiz winning his third straight individual title on the New York Racing Association circuit and trainer Chad Brown earning his first at the 54-day meet.
Wake Forest Surges Past Rivals in Man o' War
Weaving through horses in the stretch under John Velazquez, Wake Forest displayed a powerful late kick to surge past rivals in the final furlong to win the $400,000 Man o' War Stakes May 14 at Belmont Park.
Big Blue Kitten Heads Woodford Turf Classic
Big Blue Kitten, the champion older turf male of 2015, headlines a field of 13 for the 29th running of the $500,000 Woodford Reserve Turf Classic (gr. IT) May 7 at Churchill Downs.
Brown Earns First NYRA Training Title in 2015
Mechanicville, N.Y., native Chad Brown earned his first year-end NYRA training title, while jockey Irad Ortiz Jr. earned his second consecutive riding title.
Zen Papa, King Kranz Meet in Lost In The Fog
Former claimer Zen Papa will face graded stakes-placed King Kranz in the $125,000 Lost In The Fog Stakes for 3-year-olds when Aqueduct Racetrack begins the new year Jan. 1.
Irad Ortiz Jr. Gets North American Milestone
Irad Ortiz Jr., currently second nationally in money won and fourth in victories, tallied his 1,000th North American win Nov. 22 when piloting Michael Dubb's Island Therapy to victory in the fifth race at Aqueduct Racetrack.
Mr Maybe Leaves No Doubt in Red Smith
Making his stakes debut Saturday, Nov. 14 on the turf at Aqueduct Racetrack, Mr Maybe used a sustained rally to deliver a decisive victory in the $250,000 Red Smith Handicap (gr. IIIT).
Saratoga Titles for Pletcher, Ortiz, Dubb
Saratoga Race Course's meet concluded Sept. 7 with Todd Pletcher winning his sixth straight training title, and jockey Irad Ortiz Jr. landing his first while Michael Dubb repeated as leading owner.
Royal Posse Aces Evan Shipman Stakes Debut
Royal Posse dug in deep and turned back a game rival in pacesetter Saratoga Snacks to win his stakes debut, the $100,000 Evan Shipman Stakes for New York-breds at Saratoga Race Course.
Top Sanford Runners Meet Again in Hopeful
The top two finishers from the Sanford Stakes (gr. III), Uncle Vinny and Magna Light, will meet again Monday, Sept. 7 in the $350,000 Hopeful Stakes (gr. I) at Saratoga Race Course.
Ostrolenka, Good Luck Gus Rematch in NY Derby
The top three finishers from the May 25 Mike Lee Stakes at Belmont Park will meet again July 3 in the New York Derby at Finger Lakes.
NYRA Discusses Saratoga, Backstretch Changes
The board of directors of the New York Racing Association met under the leadership of new board chair Michael Del Giudice for the first time June 24 in New York City.
Slumber Rouses in the Manhattan Stakes
Slumber caught the rest of the field napping in the $1 million Knob Creek Manhattan Stakes (gr. IT) at Belmont Park and kicked home to win in dramatic fashion by 2 3/4 lengths.
Acorn Stakes Field Deep and Wide
The $750,000 Acorn Stakes (gr. I), for 3-year-old fillies at a mile, drew a well-heeled bunch that includes three unbeaten fillies.
Grade I Producer Critics Acclaim Dies
Critics Acclaim, the dam of grade I winner Rosalind, died May 24 after delivering a full brother at Hurstland Farm near Midway, Ky. She was 20.
Patience the Key for Condo Commando
The connections of Longines Kentucky Oaks (gr. I) hopeful Condo Commando passed on a trip to last year's Breeders' Cup at Santa Anita Park and have a fresh, strong contender at Churchill Downs.
'Condo' in Full Command in Gazelle
Condo Commando, the 3-5 favorite, was an easy winner of the $300,000 Gazelle Stakes (gr. II) April 4 at Aqueduct. The 3-year-old filly covered the nine furlongs in 1:52.17.
Condo Commando Dashes to Busher Victory
As snowflakes began to fall at Aqueduct Racetrack Feb. 21, heavily favored Condo Commando opened her 3-year-old campaign with an impressive front-running victory in the $100,000 Busher Stakes.
Ladies 'Cap: Belle Gallantey Seeks Turnaround
After opening 2015 with a fifth-place finish in the Affectionately Handicap at Aqueduct Racetrack, two-time grade I winner Belle Gallantey will try to bounce back in her second start of the year Jan. 31.
Ortiz, Jacobson Atop NYRA Standings in 2014
Irad Ortiz Jr. topped the year-end riding standings for the first time and David Jacobson secured his third consecutive training title on the New York Racing Association's circuit in 2014.
Posse Offspring Take Pair of NY-Bred Stakes
Odds-on choice The Lewis Dinner and 16-1 outsider Chasing Bubbles, both by Posse, were victorious in a pair of New York Stallion Series divisions for state-bred 2-year-olds Dec. 28 at Aqueduct Racetrack.
Good Luck Gus, Freudie Anne Win at Aqueduct
New York-bred juveniles took center stage Dec. 14 at Aqueduct Racetrack with a pair of impressive performances by Good Luck Gus in the $100,000 Damon Runyon Stakes and Freudie Anne in the $100,000 East View Stakes.
Patience Pays Off as Condo Commando Romps
Rudy Rodriguez passed the Nov. 2 Tempted Stakes (gr. III) with Condo Commando to wait for the $400,000 Demoiselle Stakes (gr. II), and his patience paid off as she crushed her opposition at Aqueduct Racetrack Nov. 29.
Posse Offspring Sweep NY Juvenile Stakes
Jockey Manuel Franco won both $100,000 stakes for New York-bred 2-year-olds on Nov. 16 at Aqueduct aboard offspring of Posse.
Santa Anita Return for Belle Gallantey
When speedy Longines Breeders' Cup Distaff (gr. I) hopeful Belle Gallantey arrived at Santa Anita Park Sunday it actually marked a return to California for the veteran of 43 races.
Ortiz, Brown, Dubb Secure Belmont Meet Titles
After sharing the spring/summer Belmont meet title with Javier Castellano, Irad Ortiz Jr. made sure he was alone atop the fall leaderboard by winning seven races on closing weekend.
Fresh Native Bombshell Wins Ontario Fashion
Native Bombshell shook off the rust after a year's absence, coming from off the pace to get up by a neck over favored Disco Barbie in the $139,006 Ontario Fashion Stakes (gr. III) Oct. 19 at Woodbine.
Belle Gallantey Connections Consider Distaff
In a movie, Belle Gallantey's rags to riches 2014 season would end with a victory in the $2 million Breeders' Cup Distaff (gr. I), but in real life her connections are taking time before committing to the race.
Good Luck Gus Takes NY Breeders' Futurity
Good Luck Gus took the $252,098 New York Breeders' Futurity Oct. 4 at Finger Lakes, securing his first stakes score for trainer Rudy Rodriguez.
Belle Gallantey Wire to Wire in Beldame
Former claimer Belle Gallantey continued her grade I success Sept. 27, taking the Beldame Stakes (gr. I) at Belmont Park in a wire-to-wire romp.
Saratoga Attendance Spikes; Handle Declines
The New York Racing Association reported attendance spiked during the 40-day summer meet at Saratoga Race Course, which also experienced a decline in wagering.
Condo Commando 'Splash-tastic' in Spinaway
Condo Commando took all of the drama out of track announcer Tom Durkin's final call when she romped to victory in the $350,000 Spinaway Stakes (gr. I) over a sloppy track at rainy Saratoga Race Course Aug. 31.
Ortiz, Castellano Finish in Tie at Belmont
The Belmont Park spring/summer jockey title went down to the wire July 13 when Irad Ortiz Jr. got up in the final jumps of the last race of the meet to tie Javier Castellano at 51 wins.
Belle Gallantey Steals Delaware Handicap
Belle Gallantey, a $35,000 claim just seven months ago, lulled rivals to sleep on the front end and then carried on to upset the $750,000 Delaware Handicap (gr. I) July 12 at Delaware Park.
Aqueduct Dominates NYRA Board Discussion
While Belmont Park and Saratoga Race Course were topics at the meeting, conversations about nearly every major issue facing NYRA will be affected by what happens to Aqueduct Racetrack.
Comely Has a Lot to Offer
Aqueduct's Comely Stakes (gr. III) drew a field of 10 3-year-old fillies for a run at graded black type...and a $400,000 purse.
James Marvin Speed Paves Way for Sage Valley
Speedy frontrunners set the $100,000 James Marvin Stakes (gr. III) up perfectly for Michael Dubb and Gary Aisquith's Sage Valley, who closed from off the pace to take the 7-furlong sprint July 19 at Saratoga Race Course.
Stalking Sage Valley Wins Maryland Sprint
Running for the first time in 2013, Michael Dubb's Sage Valley earned his fourth straight victory when he took the $150,000 Maryland Sprint Handicap (gr. III) at Pimlico Race Course May 18.
Vyjack Trainer Rodriguez Gets KY License
The Kentucky Horse Racing Commission license review committee April 16 recommended Rudy Rodriguez conditionally be approved for a license in the state. Rodriguez will be required to maintain 24-hour sureveillance.
NYRA Not Close to Naming McClain's Successor
Six weeks after the official start of the search for a chief executive officer for the New York Racing Association, chairman David Skorton indicated that the board is not close to naming Ellen McClain's successor.
My Happy Face Hit with Virus, to Miss KY Oaks
My Happy Face, runner-up in the 2012 Frizette Stakes (gr. I) and winner of that year's Tempted Stakes (gr. III) at Aqueduct Racetrack, is off the Kentucky Oaks (gr. I) trail with a virus contracted at Gulfstream Park.
Royal Delta Takes on Four Rivals in Sabin
Few want anything to do with Besilu Stable's 5-year-old champion Royal Delta as she preps for a start in the $10 million Dubai World Cup (UAE-I) Feb. 17 at Gulfstream Park.
Perseverance Pays Off for Head Heart Hoof
Benefiting from a patient ride, Head Heart Hoof took control leaving the turn and held off a tenacious rally by Johannesburg Smile to win the 120th renewal of the Toboggan Handicap (gr. III) at Aqueduct Racetrack Feb. 2.
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