Rice Claims Third Consecutive Aqueduct Winter Meet Training Title

Linda Rice secured her third consecutive training title at the Aqueduct winter meet, which ran from January 1 through March 30, NYRA announced Sunday.

Rice recorded 51 wins from 217 starts for a 23.5% win rate and impressive 54.38% in-the-money percentage. The achievement marks her fifth winter meet title overall at the New York track.

Meet highlights for Rice included Sand Devil (Violence) winning the Listed Damon Runyon Stakes. The promising colt also finished second in the GIII Gotham Stakes on March 1. Multiple stakes winner Sheriff Bianco (Speightster) contributed to Rice’s success with a victory in the Say Florida Sandy Stakes.

Rick Dutrow Jr. finished second in the trainer standings with 18 wins, while Rudy Rodriguez claimed third with 14 victories.

Rice also topped the owner standings with 22 wins, earning her third ownership crown. Michael Dubb finished second with 12 wins, followed by Sanford J. Goldfarb with 11.

"It has been a very good winter for us. The conditions were pretty rough this winter, so I am glad to see spring coming because it was a hard winter weather-wise," Rice said. "The horses performed well, and my staff really put in a Grade A effort all winter long under tough conditions, so I’m really proud of them."

Manny Franco captured his fifth winter riding title with 64 wins from 285 mounts, accumulating earnings exceeding $3.5 million. Franco, who was NYRA’s year-end leading rider in 2018-2019 and 2023, rode Captain Cook (Practical Joke) to victory in the Listed Withers Stakes.

Franco has the return call on Captain Cook for Saturday’s GII Wood Memorial — a crucial Kentucky Derby prep race offering 100 qualifying points to the winner.

Jose Lezcano finished second in the jockey standings with 56 wins, while Kendrick Carmouche placed third with 46.

The Aqueduct spring meeting begins Thursday.