Now, that's information you don't see every day, especially since only 10 jockeys have pulled the off winning the Kentucky Derby, Preakness as well as the Belmont; none in the last 30 years.

"It's definitely something pretty unique," said Wingert, whose father played for Philadelphia during the 1970s, the heyday of the North American Soccer League. "It's pretty cool, but I didn't have a good perspective about it until I [got] older.

"He was a modest guy. He didn't talk about it much. I remember going to race tracks growing up."

Of course, the final race held was the Belmont Stakes in New York City. Saratoga and Belmont Park are near to where Wingert grew up on Long Island, so he'll enjoy a homecoming when RSL plays the resurgent Red Bulls today in Giants Stadium.

St. John's University, where Wingert developed his aggressive defensive style and vaulted to the national stage as a soccer player, is less than an hour's drive from the stadium. The defender's hometown of West Islip is a bit farther out on Long Island, but Wingert will need between 30 and 50 tickets for today's 5:30 p.m. kickoff. Salt Lake has found victory difficult to find against New York, with five of its previous six contests deadlocked at the final whistle. The Red Bulls have the lone victory in the last stretch of six games.

"Pretty much all of them," answered Wingert when asked how much family he expects to attend RSL's drive toward a spot in the Major League Soccer playoffs.

Although the team flew to New York City on Thursday, Wingert's doesn't anticipate visiting with any relations - including his St. John's "family" - until following the game's conclusion.

"It hasn't been that difficult to focus," Wingert said. "I enjoy that stuff to be honest."

A rare RSL road victory would make Wingert's post-game shindig a bit more fun. RSL is playing the second road game in a stretch of five where four are played away from home, where it has won just once on the season. On Sept. 6 at Los Angeles, the Galaxy rallied from behind to pull out a 2-2 tie.

"To be honest, we were pretty disappointed," Wingert said. "It's not a lack of confidence that has hurt us."

Today, Wingert will be in comfortable surroundings. A two-time All-American at St. John's, Wingert was named the 2003 Hermann Trophy winner as the top college player of the year. That same season the Red Storm lost to Indiana in the NCAA College Cup final.

Wingert, grabbed from Colorado in a trade on July 13, 2007, is a large reason for the tightening of RSL's defense. Wingert also causes the other team defensive headaches during his forward runs into the offensive side of the field.

"Chris is definitely a leader of this team," RSL coach Jason Kreis. "He's a good communicator . . . a good organizer."

He'll have to be today, especially at Giants Stadium.

"I love going back and playing there," Wingert said. "I hope I can get enough tickets."

martyr@sltrib.com

At Giants Stadium, East Rutherford, N.J.

Kickoff: 5:30 p.m.

Radio: 103.1 FM, 1600 AM (Español)

TV: Ch. 5 (Tape delay at 6:30 p.m.)

Records: RSL 8-8-7; Red Bulls 8-7-8

Series: Red Bulls lead, 1-0-5

Last Meeting: 2-2 (Sept. 29, 2007)