Multiple wins Wednesday for Arlington trainer and jock

By: SPORTS NETWORK

 

Arlington Heights, IL (Sports Network) - Trainer Michael Stidham and jockey James Graham teamed up for three wins on Wednesday at Arlington Park all after Graham got things going with a win in the opening race.

Wednesday's three victories put Stidham into a tie with Larry Rivelli atop the track's trainer standings with 18 apiece. Stidham has had 10 fewer starters than Rivelli's 67 and has banked $509,408.

"(A training title) is one of those things that has never really been my forte," said Stidham. "Our goal has always been to keep running our horses where they belong and we're very happy with that as our focus. We are certainly not going to change the way we run our program to try for leading trainer honors. Let's just say if we keep winning races we'll be very happy with that."

Graham, Arlington's defending jockey champion, became the second rider this season to boot home four winners on a single program. Tim Thornton pulled off the feat the previous Wednesday.

After winning the day's first race aboard Autumn Splendor for trainer Frank Kirby, Graham rode Stidham trainees Larry Zip, Islet and Only Exception to victory. Graham sits second behind Francisco Torres in the standings with 34 wins and $1,128,408.