milestone win

Finger Lakes-based trainer James Acquilano, who has been training at the Farmington, New York track since 1981, won the 2,000th race of his career Tuesday when Jersey Gregg (Uncaptured) captured the 4th race, a six-furlong maiden claimer. Acquilano not only trains, but also owns, the 4-year-old gelding, who won by five lengths. All but 39 of Acquilano's 2,000 wins have been at his home track.

When Beautiful Thief (Dialed In) won the 12th race at Saratoga Saturday, a maiden special weight on the turf for fillies three and up, she was doing more than visiting the winner's circle for the first time. Her victory pushed trainer George Weaver over the threshold of 1,000 career wins in North America. "It feels good. It took a lot of years to get here, we've been working hard for many, many years," said Weaver. "You don't really think about these things until they happen. There was a little gap,...

Midlantic-based rider Sheldon Russell secured the 1,500th win of his career when he captured Pimlico Race Course's $100,000 Alma North S. with 1-9 favorite Hello Beautiful (Golden Lad) Saturday. The 4-year-old filly, who is owned by Madaket Stables, Albert Frassetto, Mark Parkinson, K-Mac Stables, and Magic City Stables, is trained by Russell's wife, Brittany. "I'm just very happy that we got it out of the way, and for it to happen on Hello Beautiful," said Russell. "She's been a great filly throughout my career, she's given me some great wins....

Louisiana native Gerard Melancon became the 37th jockey in North America to reach the milestone of 5,000 wins when his mount in the eighth race at Evangeline Downs Thursday night, Reposado (Shackleford), crossed the wire in front by 5 3/4 lengths. The first time he had visited the winner's circle as a rider at Evangeline Downs was 37 years ago. Melancon's first professional ride was at Delta Downs in 1984. He has since ridden in more than 31,900 races and earned nearly $88 million in purse money. He had recently...

Trainer Wesley Ward, known particularly for his prowess with 2-year-olds and his success when shipping to Royal Ascot, recorded his 2,000th win as a trainer Thursday when Gold for Kitten (Kitten's Joy) won the sixth race at Churchill Downs. Among Ward's top horses as a trainer have been English highweight and MG1SW Lady Aurelia (Scat Daddy); French highweight and G1SW No Nay Never (Scat Daddy); Eclipse champion and Breeders' Cup winner Judy the Beauty (Ghostzapper); and additional Breeders' Cup winners Hootenanny (Quality Road), Four Wheel Drive (American Pharoah), and Golden...

Barbados native Rocco Bowen reached the 1,000th win of his riding career Wednesday, Nov. 11, at Indiana Grand Racing & Casino. He had stalled, going zero for 23, since getting his 999th win Nov. 4. It was a pick-up mount for trainer Tim Glyshaw in Wednesday's ninth race that netted the milestone win. Dox Folly (Paddy O'Prado) won the Indiana-bred starter allowance by 5 1/2 lengths. "I even changed my boots today," said Bowen. "This sign is going straight to my mom. Thank you to everyone. It's been such a...

Seven-time Eclipse Award-winning trainer Todd Pletcher notched his 5,000th career win Friday at Aqueduct when Microsecond (Micromanage) won the 7th race, a 1 1/16-mile allowance. The Mike Repole colorbearer won by three-quarters of a length under Kendrick Carmouche. Pletcher was not present for the win, as he was at Keeneland for the Breeders' Cup World Championships. Pletcher had entrants in five races at Keeneland Friday, including three Breeders' Cup races. Pletcher had won 11 Breeders' Cup races going into Friday's program, as well as winning 161 individual career Grade Is....