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Josue Arce and Scott Lake
Photo Credit: Jim McCue/MJC
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BALTIMORE, 06-07-08---The eight-week Pimlico Race Course spring meeting ended today with Josue Arce, Scott Lake and Robert Cole winning individual titles. The 31-day stand began at the historic home of the Preakness Stakes on April 17.
Arce, who was brought to Maryland from South Florida by Lake at the beginning of the meet in April, captured the jockey standings by winning 30 races, four more than Rosie Napravnik to secure his first career riding title. The 22-year-old teamed up with Lake for a four-win day on May 3 and the duo visited the winners’ circle three times a week later. Twenty-two of Arce’s wins were for the Lake barn.
“Everything I was able to accomplish is because of Scott Lake,” Arce said. “He believed in me and brought me here. I thank God for Scott Lake.”
“I am not surprised, he is really a good rider,” Lake said. “He just needed an opportunity to showcase his talent. Now he needs to remain focused and he’ll do very well moving forward.”
Lake topped the trainer standings at Pimlico for the third consecutive year, winning 23 races, 13 more than Benny Feliciano. The veteran conditioner had five multiple win days, including a four-win afternoon on May 3.
“We had a great meet and I couldn’t be happier,” said Lake, who has won 14 training titles at Laurel and Pimlico this decade. “The condition book really fit us well. We claimed a lot of horses with the idea of where to go back to and everything fell together. We shipped a lot of horses into Pimlico to take advantage of the good surface. My assistants and all the help did another fantastic job.”
Another highlight of the meet for Lake happened on April 20 when his wife, Jenny Stisted, returned to action after more than six years on the sidelines to score aboard Baltimore Raven for her husband.
“Without a doubt that was a highlight,” added Lake. “It worked out great. She has won two stakes out-of-town for me since so I am happy she is back and doing well.”
Cole was the leader in the owner standings, finishing first 10 times. The Howard County native won races with four different trainers (Lake, Feliciano, Stephanie Beattie and Howard Wolfendale) on May 9.
-MJC-