Sunland Park Racetrack and Casino
Sunday, April 7, 2024
Dick Cappellucci earns first Sunland Park Thoroughbred Trainer’s Title
Longtime trainer Dick Cappellucci earned another milestone in his legendary career this week, capturing his first thoroughbred training title at Sunland Park Racetrack and Casino.
Cappellucci, a winner of more than 800 races in his 30-plus year career, saddled 30 winners this season, just ahead of Todd Fincher and Martin Valdez-Cabral, Jr.
Among his many winners this season, Cappellucci trained Competitive Idea to victory in the $65,000 KLAQ Handicap earlier this season. Cappellucci’s runners this season earned more than $478,000.
It’s the first training title for Cappellucci in New Mexico since he won the thoroughbred training title at the 2022 Albuquerque Downs season.
In addition to his success in New Mexico, Cappellucci has also enjoyed success in recent years at Canterbury Park in Minnesota as well as Turf Paradise in Phoenix, Arizona. He finished in the top 10 in the thoroughbred standings at both tracks during their respective seasons in 2021.
Cappellucci has saddled multiple stakes winners across the state of New Mexico, including Ciento, winner of both the 2003 and 2004 New Mexico State University Handicap and earner of more than $816,000 in his career. Cappellucci also trained Perty Dirty Dude to victory in the 2019 New Mexico Classic Cup Sprint Championship Stakes.
Cappellucci’s runners have earned nearly $13 million in his career, which dates back to his first winner, on July 9, 1993 when he sent Paige After Paige to victory at Santa Fe Downs. At press time, Cappellucci had saddled 815 career winners.
