LAUREL, MD. 02-01-14---Jockey Horacio Karamanos rode two winners this afternoon at Laurel Park with his first two mounts since December 31.

“I am happy,” Karamanos said. “I caught a cold at the beginning of the year. It took me about 10 days to get better so instead of taking a chance in the cold weather I took a vacation and went to visit relatives in Argentina. Then we went to Florida for the Jockey Guild meeting.”

The 40-year old led from start to finish atop claiming filly Coco Punch ($21.40) in the third race for trainer Robin Graham. With his only other mount of the afternoon, Karamanos delivered a stirring stretch drive to be up in time with favorite Tupancy Links ($3.60) and won by a nose, taking the sixth race for trainer Vernon Allinson.

“This morning was the first day I was back on horses,” added Karamanos. “I am not even tired. I love to exercise and am in very good shape. I have a personal trainer who pushes me to do more and more as I get older.”

Karamanos tied a Laurel Park record by riding seven winners on October 26, 2002 and has four riding titles in the state: 2002 Laurel summer, 2003 Pimlico summer-fall, 2007 Laurel fall and 2010 Pimlico spring. He has 984 winners at the major Maryland tracks since arriving in 2002.

About Laurel Park

Laurel Park is a Stronach Group company, North America’s leading Thoroughbred racetrack owner/operator. The Stronach Group racetracks include Santa Anita Park, Gulfstream Park & Casino, Golden Gate Fields, Portland Meadows, Laurel Park and Pimlico Race Course, home of the world-famous Preakness. The company owns and operates the Palm Meadows Training Center in Florida and is one of North America's top race horse breeders through its award-winning Adena Springs operation. The Stronach Group is one of the world's largest suppliers of pari-mutuel wagering systems, technologies and services. Its companies include AmTote, a global leader in wagering technology; Xpressbet, an Internet and telephone account wagering service; and Monarch Content Management, which acts as a simulcast purchase and sales agent of horseracing content for numerous North American racetracks and wagering outlets. The Stronach Group is also a major producer of televised horse racing programming through its HRTV cable and satellite network and is North America's premier supplier of virtual online horse racing games, as well as a leading producer of social media content for the horseracing industry.