The six-week Pimlico spring meeting ended Saturday with Dale Capuano and
Horacio Karamanos winning individual titles for leading trainer and jockey,
respectively. The 20-day spring stand began on April 17.
Capuano clinched his 31st career training title at the major Maryland tracks
when Naseeb (Belong to Me) wired the field in the 3RD race and picked up another
win in the finale when Rainbow Inthestorm (Storm Boot) nipped Grey Goose Kid
(Concorde’s Tune). The 47-year-old, who captured the Pimlico spring meet nine
times during a 10-year period from 1996-2005, saddled 11 winners during the
stand.
“Pimlico has always been good to us,” Capuano said. “It just seems the horses
are ready to run once racing shifts to Pimlico. I am disappointed it is such a
short meet but it is good to win another title. It has been awhile.”
Scott Lake, who topped the trainer standings at Pimlico the last four years,
finished second, three back.
Horacio Karamanos edged Sheldon Russell, Julian Pimentel and Eric Camacho for
the riding title. The 36-year-old, who returned to the jockey colony in March
after nearly a year and a half riding in his native Argentina, won 11 races with
39 in-the-money finishes from 75 mounts during the stand. Russell, Pimentel and
Camacho each had 10 trips to the winner’s circle.
“I am so happy,” said Karamanos, who has three riding titles at Laurel on his
resume. “I have had a lot of seconds and thirds too, so my horses ran well. I
had been gone for a year and a half so it took time to regain business. We are
getting on good horses again and I expect to have a good meet at Colonial.”
Colonial Downs in Virginia begins an eight-week meeting on May 29. It will
conclude on July 21.