Graham, Rivelli, Stiritz take Arlington Park 2011 meet titles
By Mike Porcaro
Midwest Thoroughbred
Earning his first Arlington Park jockey’s title in 2011 was a three-year work in progress for Irish pilot, James Graham. The talented 32-year old jockey finished third in the standings in 2009 and in second place last year before besting Jozbin Santana and Junior Alvarado in a spirited summer-long three-way dual for the 2011 title. Graham won 82 races with “JZ” and “Junior” winning 79 times each.
Graham’s purse winnings amounted to $1.93 million with Santana second in earnings with $1.86 million. Eddie Perez and E.T. Baird finished 4th and 5th respectively with Julio Felix having a breakout meet with 52 wins and a 6th place finish.
Leading in the standings from the meet’s first day, Larry Rivelli won his first trainer’s title in wire-to-wire fashion with 39 wins in 139 starts (28%) edging Scott Becker, who won 37 races. Wayne Catalano (34), Jimmy DiVito (31) and Chris Block (28) rounded out the top five in the standings. Block led in earnings with nearly $988,000.
Long-time owner William Stiritz completed the “first-time winners” trifecta by taking the owner’s title with 37 trips to the circle, out-distancing Richard and Karen Papiese’s’ Midwest Thoroughbreds by 19 wins. Richard Ravin, Team Block and Frank and Sharon Kirby’s Hondo Ranch were the runners-up to the top two. Stiritz’ charges earned almost $774,000.