Contact Information:
Bob Roberts (216-662-8600)
May 27, 2009
www.thistledown.com
Ness Breaks Thistledown Record For Consecutive Training Scores
Jamie Ness broke the record for consecutive winners by a trainer at Thistledown when he sent out Sailfin to capture Wednesday's third race. The five-year-old gelding represents Ness' ninth winner in row.
"He went a good trip," said Ness. "He got hooked and fought back."
Ness, 34, a native of Minnesota, had shared the record of eight straight winners with the late W.J. (Bill) Miller, who established the mark in the mid 1980's. Ness will attempt to add to the record in Thursday's fourth race when he saddles Touch Em All in a mile and 70 yard run for $7,500 claimers. The eight-year-old gelding is the 5-2 morning line favorite.
"He's okay," said Ness. "I like him."
After he began the 2009 Thistledown campaign with a fourth place finish on May 2, Ness launched his record run on May 8. Only once during the streak, when he doubled on May 11, has Ness saddled more than one winner on a race program.
Ness, who leads all Thistledown trainers after 16 days of the Summit-Thistledown Meeting, captured the training title this past winter at Tampa Bay Downs. He currently ranks eighth among all North American trainers with 75 winners.