Contact Information:
Bob Roberts (216-662-8600)
July 17, 2008
www.thistledown.com
Stokes Poised To Break Spieth-Gonzalez Lock On Thistledown Jockey Championships
Since the summer of 2004, Luis Gonzalez and Scott Spieth have dominated Thistledown's four annual riding championships, winning or sharing 13 of the last 14 crowns. Only Weldon Cloninger Jr. and Jeffrey Skerrett, who shared last year's Summit Meeting title, have been able to stop Spieth (11 titles) and Gonzalez (three).
Odds are that after Thursday's final program of the 51-day Summit-Thistledown Meeting, there will be a another new name on the roster of champions at the North Randall oval --- that of Louis Stokes. The Louisiana-native, who has been riding for 10 years, has a two-winner lead over Cloninger (38-36) and has three getaway day mounts. Cloninger has two mounts. Jeffrey Skerrett is third with 35 winners, but has only two scheduled mounts. Both Stokes and Cloninger could gain or lose a mount, due to scratches and late jockey changes, but Stokes appears to be in good position for a career first.
"I've never won a riding title," said the Lafayette, Louisiana native. "I've been second once (at Beulah), so I'd love to win this one."
Should Stokes capture the title, he will have completely erased the memory of a very unlucky start to last year's racing season. In April, Stokes and one of his mounts were caught in traffic. Stokes was sent to the turf. He suffered four cracked ribs and a punctured lung. Stokes did heal quickly enough to ride 62 winners in 2007, finishing sixth in the overall jockeys' derby.
"The start to this season has obviously been more fun than last year's," said Stokes. "If I win, I'll celebrate, but I won't get carried away."
Stokes's mounts, all for trainer Rodney Faulkner, are in the third, fifth and ninth races, and include Latin Awad, the 5-2 morning line favorite in the third race.
ALREADY CHAMPION --- That would be trainer Jeff Radosevich, who enters the final day of the Summit-Thistledown Meeting with 34 winners to Rodney Faulkner's 29 winners. Faulkner has three scheduled starters on Thursday and can't catch Radosevich, who will celebrate his 12th meeting championship at Thistledown. Radosevich is the only horseman in track history to be champion jockey as well as trainer. He was the leading rider in 1988 . . . While he can't catch Radosevich for the training title, Faulkner's R and P Racing Stable can celebrate being the winningest Summit-Thistledown Meeting barn. R and P has won 19 races. Pyrite Stables is a distant second with 13 winners . . . Five horses -- none of them entered on the final program -- will share the title of winningest horse. Those with three victories are Ragtime Request, Hacoda, Kinkcachu, Dance to Life, and Catlgetyourtongue.
NATIONAL RANKINGS --- Faulkner may have trouble catching Radosevich for a Thistledown training title, but he ranks 23rd in North America with 75 victories, having won more out of town races than his local rival. Radosevich ranks 35th with 65 winners. His stable has earned $654,886 to Faulkner's $585,535.
SPORTS DAY --- Thistledown is hosting WKNR/FSN Sports Day on Saturday with several outstanding giveaways. Most unique may be the trip for two to Madison for this year's Ohio State-Wisconsin football game. The package includes two game tickets, airfare, hotel accommodations, and VIP tailgate party access. Visit the WKNR Booth and register for this trip as well as a Nemacolin Woodlands Resort Package including overnight accommodations and a round of golf for two, a $100 gas card and a $100 gift card! Mark “Munch” Bishop will broadcast live from 12-3 p.m. and WKNR will have their Sports Olympics Challenge on site for a chance to win other prizes.
Meet and greet Jeff Phelps at the FSN Booth and enter to win some great getaway packages including a Cincinnati Getaway Package with four tickets to a Cincinnati Reds game, courtesy of FSN Ohio, four tickets to Cincinnati’s premier amusement park, hotel accommodations for two nights, a $100 gas card and dinner for four; a Columbus Getaway Package including four tickets to the NHL’s Columbus Blue Jackets, courtesy of FSN Ohio, overnight hotel accommodations, a $100 gas card and dinner for four; a Cleveland Package – four Diamond Club Box Seats to a Cleveland Baseball game, courtesy of FSN Ohio, a $100 gas card and dinner for four!
Play the Thistledown Putting Challenge! The grand prize is golf for four at any of the Granite Golf Properties. Other prizes include golf clubs, golf accessories, Cleveland National Air Show tickets, gift cards and more. All money will benefit charity.
Enjoy live music by Beatles tribute band, Abbey Road from 12:30-4 p.m. and outdoor grilling and beer specials.
FEED BAG --- The $36,116.70 payoff on the July 7 Super High Five (picking the first five horses across the finish line) is a Thistledown record for the $1 wager. The lone winning ticket was sold at Boston's Suffolk Downs, one of Thistledown's full-card simulcasting outlets . . .Thistledown apprentice jockey Kirsten Swan, who'll be a senior at Chagrin Falls High School this fall, rode for the first time against her step-father, Thistledown champion jockey Scott Spieth. They were both unplaced in a recent race at Presque Isle Downs . . .Thistledown will be open for evening full-card simulcasting Thursday, and Sunday of this week. It is open each and every afternoon, starting at 11:30 a.m.