Pletcher tops earnings list again

For the third year in a row, Todd Pletcher has topped the year-end

standings for earnings by trainer, establishing a new mark by accumulating $27,640,243

in earnings in 2006. The New York-based trainer shattered

his 2005 earnings record by nearly $6 million.

Saddling 1,170 horses, Pletcher also surpassed a pair of 19-year-old single

season records established by his mentor, D. Wayne Lukas. The 39-year-old

conditioner set a new

mark with a total of 100 stakes victories, eight more than Lukas, and captured a

record 57 graded stakes, including 17 Grade 1s. His best horses included Fleet

Indian (Indian Charlie), English Channel (Smart Strike), Wait A While (Maria's

Mon), Bluegrass Cat (Storm Cat), Honey Ryder (Lasting Approval), Circular

Quay (Thunder Gulch) and Scat Daddy (Johannesburg).

Garrett Gomez, who won at a 21 percent rate, led all jockeys with $21,922,592

in earnings in 2006. He shifted his tack from California to the East Coast during

the spring, becoming Pletcher's first-call rider while John Velazquez was

briefly sidelined with a shoulder injury, but continued to raid big races from

coast to coast, leading all riders with 12 Grade 1 victories. The 35-year-old

pilot recorded major

wins aboard Discreet Cat

(Forestry), English Channel, Wait a While, Ashkal Way (Ire) (Ashkalani),

Circular Quay and

Sinister Minister (Old Trieste). Gomez capped a highly successful year with

the riding title at the recently concluded Hollywood Park meet.

INVASOR (Arg) (Candy

Stripes) wrapped up a likely Horse of the Year season with a resounding

one-length victory in the Breeder's Cup Classic (G1), and the four-year-old colt

led all North American runners with $3,790,000 in earnings in 2006. Trained by

Kiaran McLaughlin, Invasor was unbeaten on American soil, also winning the Whitney

H. (G1), Suburban H. (G1) and Pimlico Special H. (G1). He's being prepared for a

2007 campaign.

Scott Lake led all trainers in North America with 528 wins in 2006. With a 24

percent win rate, the 41-year-old conditioner also finished fourth nationally by

earnings. Julien Leparoux, who rode as apprentice until September, had the most

victories of any jockey, making 403 trips to the winner's circle. First-call

rider for Patrick Biancone, the 23-year-old Frenchman plans to travel between

Turfway Park and Santa Anita this winter.

Maggie Moss, who is based in Des Moines, Iowa, was the most successful owner

by wins in 2006, capturing 211 races (28 percent win).