Rice Enjoying Early Success at Saratoga Meet

After nine days of the 40-day meet at Saratoga Race Course the leading trainer in the clubhouse is Linda Rice. 

"I am obviously very pleased the horses have run well," she said July 23 at her Saratoga barn. 

Rice won the third race Sunday with 4-year-old filly Howdyoumakeurmoney , who was ridden by Jose Lezcano for Commonwealth New Era Racing. When the day ended, Rice had 10 wins, eight seconds, and four thirds in 31 starts.

She is the only woman to have ever won a Saratoga training title, that coming in 2009 when she visited the winner's circle 20 times. She is the only woman to have ever won a training title in New York.

Chad Brown, who has five Saratoga training titles, including four of the last five, has nine wins, six seconds, and eight thirds from 38 starts so far and 14-time champion Todd Pletcher has eight wins, five seconds, and three thirds from 30 starts.

"I have had a very good two weeks," Rice said. "It's early in the meet. I don't have the size of barn or strength of stable that Todd or Chad has. It would be unlikely (for her to win it)."

For now, she will enjoy the roll she is on.

"You always have to be optimistic," she said. "If you weren't, you would not be getting up at 4:00 a.m. seven days a week. You never know how it's going to go."