Hollendorfer had won 32 consecutive training crowns at Golden Gate Fields, a streak that began in 1986. Morey ended Hollendorfer's amazing run by saddling 25 winners during the 30-day spring meeting.
Hollendorfer, who went 0-for-4 Sunday, won 23 races and finished tied for second in the standings with Steve Miyadi, who won one race on the closing-day card.
Morey, who has 60 horses in his stable, had 78 starters at the meeting and won races at outstanding 32 percent clip. Hollendorfer started 107 runners and had a winning percentage of 21.4. Miyadi had 80 starters and finished with a fine win percentage of 28.7.
Morey, 34, is the son of veteran Bay Area conditioner William J. Morey, Jr., and he served as his father's assistant for eight years before taking out his trainer's license in 2001. William E. Morey has ranked among the top five trainers at each of the past 10 major meetings in Northern California and was second to Hollendorfer at two meetings (2007-2008 Golden Gate Fields season and 2005 Golden Gate Fields spring session).
There were no surprises in the race for leading jockey honors as Russell Baze won 48 races to earn his 33rd career riding championship at Golden Gate Fields. Frank Alvarado finished second with 27 victories and Chris Landeros was third with 16 wins.
LOST IN THE FOG OWNER ALEO DIES
Harry Aleo, a prominent Northern California horse owner who gained worldwide attention with 2005 sprint champion Lost in the Fog, died at his home in San Francisco Saturday with his longtime companion, Deannie Bartlett, at his side. Aleo, who succumbed to cancer, was 88.
A native of San Francisco, Aleo was signed to a minor league contract by the Brooklyn Dodgers as a third baseman but saw his baseball hopes dashed when he blew out his elbow in spring training in 1940.
Aleo joined the Army and fought under Gen. George Patton in the Battle of the Bulge. Aleo returned to San Francisco after serving his country and started Twin Peaks Properties, a San Francisco real estate agency he owned and operated until his passing.
Aleo became involved in horse racing in 1979 when he met trainer Greg Gilchrist, the only conditioner he would ever employ. Aleo and Gilchrist purchased a horse at Pleasanton named Sunny Shy, who finished fifth in his debut at Bay Meadows. Sunny Shy made his second start at Golden Gate Fields and won but was claimed out of the race by another trainer.
Harry was hooked on horse racing and spent the rest of his life in the game. Although Lost in the Fog was the best horse he ever campaigned, Aleo also owned stakes-winners Minutes Away, Beyond Brilliant, Smokey Stover, Vicarino, Victorina, and Wild Promises, who captured the Yerba Buena Stakes at Golden Gate Fields on June 8.
In addition to Ms. Bartlett, Aleo is survived by daughters Carol, Terri, and Valerie, and three grandchildren. The Valente Mariani Perata Funeral Home (4840 Mission St., San Francisco, CA, 94112, 415-333-0161) will be handling the services, which are pending.
MAIDENS JUSTICE WINS LOST IN THE FOG STAKES
Maidens Justice, a maiden trained by Gil Matos, justified Matos' faith in him by winning the $75,000 Lost in the Fog Stakes Sunday.
Ridden by Juan Ochoa, Maidens Justice squeezed between two horses (A K Racer and Conclusive) at the top of the stretch and went on to win the five-furlong race for 2-year-olds by 1 1/4 lengths in 58.71 seconds. Lightning Diablo took second by 1 1/4 lengths over Seismometer.
The stewards conducted an inquiry into the stretch run since Maidens Justice and Conclusive bumped twice in the lane. The stewards made no change in the order of finish, however, since tiring pacesetter A K Racer came in on Maidens Justice and caused the bumping.
"This horse doesn't have any quit in him," said Matos of Maidens Justice. "He'll run through a fence. It looked like there was a lot of speed in the race so we took a shot and he got there."
When asked about the inquiry, the portly Matos said, "For a fat man, that's not good. It almost gave me a heart attack."
Maidens Justice, who finished second in his first two starts, paid $24.00 after breaking his maiden in the Lost in the Fog. Owned by M. A. Douzos and Sandra Matos, Maidens Justice earned $45,000.