NY Horse Racing

Jockey & Trainer Biographies

Finger Lakes Jockeys

Omar Camejo
 Omar Camejo

Age: 30
Hometown: Havana, Cuba
First Mount: Calder (2000)
First FL Mount: 2005
Career highlights: Won two stakes races in Florida with Petrina Above 2003. Leading apprentice rider Calder 2001 summer meet 

Elaine Castillo
 Elaine Castillo

Age: 24
Hometown: Mexico City, Mexico
First Mount: Great Lakes Downs
First FL Mount: 2004
Career highlights: Won 3 races at Finger Lakes when Mom and Dad were in attendance. Only female rider in Finger Lakes history to finish in top ten in jockey standings (2005).

Did You Know? Elaine enjoys swimming, boating and dancing  

Carlos Dominguez
 Carlos Dominguez

Age: 51
Hometown: Panama City, Panama 
Career highlights: 6 wins on Rosie’s Buddy, 1500th career win (5/12/06)

Did You Know? Carlos likes to spend time away from the track fishing.

Dean Frates
 Dean Frates

Age: 38
Hometown:  Mattapoisett, Massachusetts
First Mount Rockingham Park
First FL Mount: 1992
Career highlights: Won the New York Derby on 59-1 longshot Don Corleone (164K) for trainer Sal Iorio (2004). Captured Niagara Stakes two consecutive years: Double the Debt (2001) and We’ll Sea Ya (2002).

John Grabowski
 John Grabowski

Age: 44
Hometown:  Coalinga, California 
Career highlights: Owns six Finger Lakes Racetrack riding titles (‘91,’95, ‘96, ‘00,‘01). Holds record for the most wins in a season (233 in 2000). Captured Finger Lakes record of nine stakes in one season (2001)
Did You Know? John was the subject of the first ever bobblehead giveaway at Finger Lakes (2006).

Paul Nicol, Jr.
 Paul Nicol, Jr.

Age:  45
Hometown:  Annapolis, Maryland
First Mount:
First Finger Lakes Mount:
Career highlights: Captured 3000th career win (6/27/06). Won the Grade 3 Finger Lakes Breeders Cup with Double Screen (1997). Won 7 of 9 races on a single day at Pimlico (1983). Owns 1983 Pimlico riding title.

Pedro Rodriguez
 Pedro Rodriguez

Age:  39
Hometown: Cuba
First Mount: 1985
Most memorable events in career: Calder Race Course Hall of Fame inductee 2005, Calder leader rider (1989). Won $400,000 My Girl Stakes at Calder with Nancy’s Glitter (1997).

Joel Sone
 Joel Sone

Age: 33
Hometown: Santa Domingo, Dominican Republic
First Mount: Dominican Republic (1992)

Gabriel Suarez
 Gabriel Suarez

Age: 22
Hometown: Carolina, Puerto Rico
First Mount: Puerto Rico
First Finger Lakes Mount: 2002
Most memorable events in career: Jockey foot race champion for four years in a row (2003-2006).

 

Finger Lakes Trainers

Oscar Barrera, Jr.
 Oscar Barrera, Jr.

Began Training:  1980 @ NYRA circuit
Career Highlights: Trainer of 2003 Finger Lakes “Horse of the Year” Perty Number.
Tri Ocala, Satch and The Young Squire, who won seven race in one meet at Gulfstream Park.
Did You Know? Father Oscar Barrera Sr. was leading trainer at NYRA for eight consecutive years. Uncle Laz Barrera trained Affirmed, the last Triple Crown winner in 1978.

Chris Englehart
 Chris Englehart

Began training: 1973 @ Finger Lakes
Career highlights: 5 Finger Lakes trainer titles: (1985, 1987, 2003, 2004, 2005). Trained Frattare – In 1989 became the only locally based horse to ever win the Grade III Finger Lakes Budweiser Breeders’ Cup

Michael Lecesse
 Michael Lecesse

Began Training: 1978 @ Finger Lakes
Career highlights: Trained Missionary Monk, Houston Pro, Seattle Schifty, and Sindbad the Sailor.

James T. Wright
 James T. Wright

Began Training: 1977 @ Finger Lakes
Career highlights: Trained Vasilios, a 21-time winner who was a deep closer, 1998 Wadsworth Memorial Handicap winner Cherokee Reef.

Charlton Baker
 Charlton Baker

Began Training: 1997 @ Finger Lakes
Career highlights: Trained multiple stakes winners Runaway Tiger, Top Shoter, Johnie Bye Night. Top Shoter named FL Horse of the Year

M. Anthony Ferraro
 M. Anthony Ferraro

Began Training: 1984 @ Finger Lakes and won with first horse saddled like his father
Career highlights: Two training titles (1998 / 2000) – tied with father both years. Reached 1,000 win milestone 10/21/05. Trained Shesastonecoldfox, a multiple stakes winner and Breeders’ Cup participant.

Michael S. Ferraro
 Michael S. Ferraro

Began Training: 1971 @ Fort Erie
Career Highlights: Owns 18 Finger Lakes training titles. Reached 2,000 win milestone 11/23/03.Trained Fio Rito who won 1981 Whitney Handicap (Grade 1) and is considered best horse to run at Finger Lakes, winning 28 races in his career.

Jonathan Buckley
 Jonathan Buckley

Began Training: 1976 @ Green Mountain Park
Career Highlights: Trained Sleek’nsilver, a 2-time stakes winner and Belongs to Mony a $310k earner and 16-time winner.