Laurel Park: Alternative trainer stats through July 19

Laki, trained by Damon Dilodovico. Photo by Laurie Asseo.

by Chelsea Lowman

Kelly Rubley may have only added two victories since our last check-in, but that hasn’t stopped her from remaining on top of our Laurel Park alternative trainer standings. With 358.33 points, Rubley maintains a strong advantage, as she continues to lead in terms of win percentage, earnings per start, and wagering return on investment.

Claudio Gonzalez has been on a roll, picking up five wins in the last three weeks. That has been enough to propel him from third to second, now with 282.94 points. Mark Reid, Hugh McMahon, and Kieron Magee complete the top five, with 273.12, 256.80, and 227.77 points, respectively.

Our ratings system combines wins, win percentage, earnings per start, and $2 wagering return on investment. It is formulated to highlight trainers who win frequently in big races, along with those who can strike with a solid percentage of runners. The top trainer in each category receives 100 points, meaning that a trainer who can lead a colony in all four categories will earn a perfect score of 400.

We applied this method to every trainer at Laurel Park who has made at least 15 starts and recorded at least one victory.

Just like before, Gonzalez is in charge when it comes to the win category. His current collection of 12 victories gives him a strong advantage over the colony. McMahon and Magee are is his nearest challengers, tied with eight trips to the winner’s circle each thus far. Rubley slides into third behind them, with seven wins. John Robb, Michael Trombetta, and Mary Eppler are tied for fourth, with six wins apiece.

Rubley’s win percentage of 33.33 percent remains the highest in the colony. However, with a win rate of 26.67 percent, Reid is not far behind in second. Gonzalez comes in third, with a win percentage of 24 percent. Magee and McMahon complete the top five, with strike rates of 22.86 and 21.62 percent, respectively.

With earnings per start of $8,521, Rubley has a strong lead over the colony. New to the top five in second-place is Graham Motion, whose earnings per start total $7,013. Phil Schoenthal is third, with earnings of $6,146 per start. In fourth we have Reid, who has earnings per start of $6,002. Rounding out the top five is McMahon, whose earnings per start come out to be $5,783.

Rubley’s $2 wagering ROI of $3.38 is enough to keep her on top. However, some of the competition is starting to get close. Aided by a win from her trainee, Chauncey, who won an allowance race at odds of 35-1 on July 14, Lacey Gaudet is now right behind Rubley in second, with an ROI of $3.36. Reid comes in next in third, with an ROI of $3.02. Completing the top five for this category are Gary Capuano and Damon Dilodovico, who return bettors $2.30 and $2.16 for each two-dollar win wager, respectively.

The rankings include all races through July 19, 2018.

LAUREL PARK TRAINER RANKINGS