Ramon Dominguez, who came off record-setting meets at Aqueduct and Belmont Park to capture his first Saratoga Race Course riding title this summer, added another milestone to his breakout 2009 season.
Dominguez won today's fifth race at Belmont aboard Bon Marie, his 300th victory in New York this year. In doing so, Dominguez became only the fifth rider to reach that plateau in the Empire State in a calendar year.
The others are Steve Cauthen (433 wins in 1977), Angel Cordero Jr. (340 in 1982; 309 in 1983), Mike Smith (330 in 1991; 313 in 1993), and Eibar Coa (303 in 2006).
Bon Marie is trained by Anthony Dutrow for owners Michael Dubb and Robert Joscelyn.
"It feels great," Dominguez said. "When the year starts, you don't target anything like this. The days roll along and you start winning races and you hit 300. It's something to be proud of, especially in New York."
Dominguez set a modern-day record with 98 wins at Belmont's spring-summer meet that preceded Saratoga, where he edged defending champ Alan Garcia for the crown in his first full year in New York after dominating the Mid-Atlantic circuit.
He is 300-for-1,229 in New York this year with $11.8 million in purses. He ranks second nationally in wins and first in purses ($13.5 million).
"I'm very excited, especially with this being my first time year-round here," Dominguez said. "I couldn't have dreamed of it."
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