LAUREL, MD. 03-27-14---Juan Vazquez moved into a first place tie in the Laurel Park trainer standings with two live racing days remaining in the winter meeting. The 42-day stand ends Saturday afternoon.

Vazquez saddled Cochita Rich ($11.80) to victory in Thursday’s fourth race to tie Claudio Gonzalezfor the top spot. Both conditioners have 19 victories.

“The title is going to have to be earned,” said Vazquez, who topped the standings at the Pimlico spring meet last year. “I have a lot of horses entered but every race is tough. The fields aren’t large but it seems every horse in every race has a chance to win. It is tough but I hope to finish on top.”

Vazquez will have runners in five of the nine races Friday and four-of-10 on closing day.

Gonzalez has runners entered in six races over the final two days.

Hugh McMahon and Kieron Magee are one back with 18 winners. McMahon could have starters in eight races, while Magee, who is winning at a 29% clip for the meet, has just one horse remaining to compete.

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.