Dominguez, Contessa wrap up titles at Belmont

Jockey Ramon Dominguez and trainer Gary Contessa continued to dominate the

competition in New York, with Dominguez running away with the jockey title for

the 64-day spring/summer meet at Belmont Park and Contessa edging Christophe

Clement for the training title.

Dominguez rode three winners on Sunday's closing day program, finishing with

a modern-day record of 98 winners for the meet. The previous mark had been set

by retired Hall of Famer Angel Cordero Jr., who posted 92 victories during the

1982 Belmont Park meet.

Finishing second among riders was Rajiv Maragh, with 71 winners.

Contessa, who has been the leading trainer in New York for the past three

years, saddled 25 winners from 208 starts, while Clement finished up with 23

winners from 82 starts.

Dominguez and Contessa also were the leading jockey and trainer at Aqueduct

Racetrack's inner track meet and the spring meet.

Carl Lizza was the leading owner for the Belmont spring meet for the second

time with 15 winners, two more than runner-up Steve Sigler and Winning Move

Stable. Lizza's Flying Zee Stable was the leading owner at Belmont in 2006 as

well.

Thoroughbred racing moves upstate to Saratoga for 36 days beginning Wednesday

and running through Labor Day, September 7. Belmont Park will re-open for the

fall championship meet on September 11.