Hightstown, NJ – Ridge Warren has been busier than usual this winter.
In addition to become the father of twin girls a month ago, Warren has been more active in the sulky this year – launching his campaign on Jan. 2 at the Meadowlands and making 101 starts through Wednesday (Feb. 18).
Each of the past two years, Warren didn’t begin his season until the calendar turned to February. At this time last year, he had only 11 starts, which came after the mid-February opening of the 2025 meet at his “home track,” Pocono Downs at Mohegan Pennsylvania.
With Pocono having started its 2026 season just a week ago, most of Warren’s work this year has been at the Meadowlands, where his nine wins put him fourth in the driver standings. His top night so far came on Jan. 24 when he led all drivers with four victories, two each for trainers Jake Leamon and Eddie Sager.
“I started driving for Jake toward the end of the Harrah’s Philadelphia meet and that led into the Meadowlands,” said Warren, a 37-year-old Michigan native now residing in northeast Pennsylvania. “I was happy to go there when he asked me to, and it’s led to some other drives for people. I’m still a new guy, new to the colony, so I’m putting my time in.
“This business just stems from opportunities. You need the trainer with 10 or more horses to give you a chance. For me, Jake has been that guy. He’s been a guy who has stuck with me and understands you’re not going to win every week, but that you can take care of a horse and live to fight another day.”
Warren plans to keep driving at the Meadowlands while also competing at Pocono, including doubleheaders on Saturdays, as long as the opportunities continue. He will add Tioga Downs to his schedule when it opens in May. He finished fifth in the standings at Tioga and seventh at Pocono in 2025.
“Everything I’m doing right now kind of stems around my family life and trying to create a balance, but if you’re not willing to be everywhere, somebody else is,” Warren said. “There is a lot of talent out there.
“Right now, on the East Coast, you’re not driving against the Meadowlands colony, or Harrah’s Philadelphia or Pocono – everybody is intermixed into this big East Coast driver colony. People are willing to drive three hours to get the next opportunity. When you get it, you’ve got to take advantage of it. You don’t get many missed opportunities, it’s that tough out here. I’m just doing the best I can with each one and trying to stay as busy as I can.”
Warren, who has won 1,821 races since beginning his career in 2007, visited the winner’s circle 192 times last year and guided horses to $2.78 million in purses. His earnings were less than $38,000 from being among the top 50 in North America.
In 2024 and 2023, Warren won 229 and 237 races, respectively, and earned more than $2.8 million in purses both seasons. Although his numbers dipped slightly in 2025, his average earnings went up as he drove far fewer races than in either of those years.
Warren also saw his opportunities increase in stakes races, driving in 16 events with purses of at least $100,000, compared to a total of two the previous two years, and traveled the New York Sire Stakes circuit.
He finished third in the Grade 2 Joe Gerrity Jr. Memorial with Howlenthehills for trainer Travis Alexander and fourth in the Grade 2 Matron Stakes for 3-year-old pacing fillies for trainer Ron Coyne Jr. In addition, he had a third in the Big Apple final for 2-year-old pacing fillies with Odds On Monetary (Alexander) and fourth in the Big Apple final for freshman male pacers with American Pastime and trainer Jenny Melander.
“I was super fortunate for those opportunities, and I made good checks,” Warren said. “If I can get those opportunities again, I’ll just feel so much more comfortable in those instances. I never drove in those races before, but if I do again in 2026, I’m going to be way better than I was in 2025 just because of having been there. The more you do it, the more confident you get. I just have to get those opportunities.”
As for the remainder of this season, Warren said, “The goal is to do the Meadowlands as much as I can, the New York Sire Stakes, Pocono; Tioga is a nice spot, too.
“The main thing is to stay healthy. I think I’m on the cusp of a breakthrough, I just need to get that break. If I can build on last year, I could have a heck of a 2026. I’m already further ahead than last year, so we’re on track.”