LRL: First training victories for Leaf, Salzman
Bobby Leaf, Megan Salzman celebrate milestone wins
Frank Vespe
September 13, 2026
Trainer Timmy Salzman, who passed away in February, recorded the final victory of his career last November with speedy turf sprinter Where’s Ray.
His widow Megan, carrying on the family legacy, lodged her first win as a trainer Sunday afternoon at Laurel Park with the very same Where’s Ray. And it came on what would have been the couple’s anniversary.
Megan Salzman was one of two Laurel trainers to record their first career wins Sunday, as Bobby Leaf, III saddled Fan Club to a win for his career lid-lifter.
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Where’s Ray, a six-year-old Mshawish gelding, concluded his 2025 campaign with three consecutive wins, all going 5 ½ furlongs on the Laurel lawn. But 2026 had been less kind; he had one win, that via disqualification, from six starts and was 0-for-4 since the trainer of record switched from Timmy Salzman’s brother John Salzman, Jr. to Megan Salzman.
“It’s Timmy and my anniversary today, so this is like my first win,” said Megan Salzman by phone. “To come like this is just unreal.”
Where’s Ray got there by the narrowest of margins, grinding down Call Me Andy to win by a nose in a ratings/optional claimer. Jockey Joe Rocco Jr. settled Where’s Ray just behind a contested pace in the 5 1/2-furlong turf sprint, moved up outside on the turn and was fanned six wide entering the stretch. The 6-year-old gelding kept coming down the lane, finally drawing even with Call Me Andy in deep stretch and getting the bob in 1:02.84 over good turf. He paid $7.00 to win.
Call Me Andy slipped through along the inside in upper stretch, battled Cactus and grabbed a short lead inside the final sixteenth but was nailed at the wire. Cactus, who had contested the pace and then led, finished another half-length back in third, with Fierce and Strong fourth after encountering traffic in the stretch.
“This horse is so special, so so special,” Megan Salzman said. “[Timmy] picked it out before he passed; it was one of the last ones.”
The win came one day after the running of the Sensible Lady Stakes at Laurel Park, a race named for one of Tim Salzman’s best runners, the six-time stakes winner Salzman trained for Three Lyons Racing.
Tim Salzman passed Feb. 7 at age 54.
Four races prior, Bobby Leaf, III, the son of longtime local trainer Bobby Leaf, Jr., earned his first win when Fan Club romped to a 4 ¾-length triumph in a $7,500 claimer. It was the younger Leaf’s first win after starting his career 0-for-25.
“It feels really good,” Leaf said. “I knew this horse was going to pull it off for us, get me my first win, because he’s just all heart.”
Fan Club turned a prolonged stretch battle into a decisive victory in the 1 1/16-mile contest. Jockey Warren Ebow III kept the 8-year-old Street Sense gelding within striking range before making a three-wide move on the far turn. Fan Club hooked early leader Addy’s Laddy T N T entering the stretch, finally shook free near the sixteenth pole, and drew off. He paid $8.20 to win.
Addy’s Laddy T N T, who led from the start and fought gamely after being challenged on the far turn, held second by five lengths over favorite Rapidity. Celestial Moon finished fourth after pressing the pace and joining the battle approaching the stretch.
Fan Club was claimed out of the race for $7,500 by Louis Ulman and Walter Vieser II and will go to trainer Emanuel Geralis.
Leaf, 32 and a farrier by trade, said that, between the racetrack and the farm, he has 13 horses in training, plus mares and yearlings and retirees.
“This win really helps kind of take care of all of them,” he said. “Fan Club’s taking care of the whole barn.”
Leaf gave credit to the whole team – grooms and hotwalkers and riders and others – and added, “Me and my dad are a team. He was the trainer until March, and now I’m the trainer.”
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