MAGICAL THISTLEDOWN SEASON FOR JAMIE NESS INCLUDES 39 "HIT THE BOARD'' FINISHES IN A ROW
In a season that has seen him break Thistledown's record for consecutive victories, win a $100,000 stakes race with a horse he claimed for considerably less, and saddle the runner-up in the Grade II Ohio Derby, there is yet another remarkable achievement for trainer Jamie Ness.
When Brickland faltered to finish fifth in Monday's (Oct. 12) sixth race at the North Randall oval, it ended a run of 39 Thistledown starters from the Ness barn that "hit the board," meaning they finished no worse than in fourth place.
Ness' month-long run began on Sept. 12 and included 21 winners, eight runners-up, nine show finishers, and one fourth-place finish.
The unprecedented streak of ready-to-run horses are part of a dream season for Ness, who, through Monday, ranks third in North America in victories (221) and 40th in earnings. His $2,556,678 in purse money is more than Hall of Fame trainers Nick Zito ($2.4 million) and D. Wayne Lukas ($2 million) have accumulated this season.
"It's been a great year," said Ness, who is racing at Penn National as well as Thistledown and will soon head to Tampa Bay Downs for the winter. "We had a big season at Presque Isle as well as Thistledown, and I couldn't accomplish what I have without great assistants."
Ness' 33 percent win rate and 66 percent top three finishers percentage are unmatched in North America.
Part of that success story is the record nine consecutive Thistledown winners that culminated with Sailfin's score on May 27. 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.
After he began the 2009 Thistledown campaign with a fourth place finish on May 2, Ness launched his run on May 8. Only once during the streak, (a double on May 11), did Ness saddled more than one winner on a single race program.
Ness used the hot hand to win the Summit-Thistledown training title in a photo over defending champion Jeff Radosevich, 21 to 20 winners. Ness is positioned for a sweep of both meetings as he holds an eight-winner lead over Gerald Bennett (39-31) with two weeks to go in the 76-day Randall-Cranwood Meeting.
Ohio Derby/Best of Ohio Day was rewarding for Ness as he won the $100,000 Best of Ohio Endurance with Sneak A Cold Treat, a horse he claimed for $12,500 at Tampa Bay Downs in April, then finished second in the Grade II Ohio Derby with War Fighter.
MADRIGAL MILESTONE --- Trainer Rod Madrigal scored the 1,000th victory of his career when he sent out Astonishing to win Friday's (Oct. 9) third race. Astonishing is owned by Madrigal's wife, Barbara.
"That makes it more special," said Madrigal, 69, who has been training since 1979, shortly after completing a 22-year career as a jockey.
A native of Mexico, where he spent time as a bullfighter before turning to racing, Madrigal tutored 1990 Ohio Horse of the Year Sister Explodent, as well as Buckeye divisional champions Ashwood C C and John Q's Winner. He is the father of jockey Rod Madrigal Jr., who began his career at Thistledown but is now a regular at Philadelphia Park.
"My son won his 1,000th race on a horse I trained," said Madrigal, who quickly began working on his next thousand winners by sending out L'll Miss Sunshine to win Friday's seventh race.
BREEDERS CUP AT THISTLEDOWN --- This year's championship races will be held Friday and Saturday (Nov. 6-7) at Santa Anita. Thistledown's doors will open at the usual time of 11:30 a.m. on Friday, but the track will open for business an hour earlier (10:30 a.m.) on Saturday.
There will be advance wagering on Saturday's races on Friday, but there will not be advance wagering on Friday's races.
CLAIMED AND CLAIMED AGAIN --- Railbirds may recall that on Aug. 7, Like a Bull, a horse that brought a bid of $410,000 at auction in 2006 made his career debut in a $4,000 maiden claiming sprint, ran second, and was claimed. Daybreak Stables, which bred and sold him, put in the claim. James Day, who owns the Virginia nursery, took the horse home with the thought of retiring him. But Day entered Like a Bull in last Saturday night's fourth race at Charles Town, a $14,000 claiming race -- and somebody (owner-trainer John McKee) took him for the advertised price.
"Yes, I was surprised," said Day. "But I'll be patient and get him back. He's not going anywhere."
FEED BAG --- Trainer Shirley Girten-Drake and jockey Louis Stokes shipped down to win Tuesday's opening race of the fall meeting at Beulah Park. They did so with Ira Novak's Birdrock, a three-time winner at Thistledown this season . . . The combination of trainer Jevon Crumley and jockey Weldon Cloninger teamed to win the third race on last Friday's opening day card at Keeneland with El Indy, a $10,000 claimer. They came back to Thistledown with an empty van as El Indy was haltered . . . Thistledown track announcer Ayers Ratliff, who also describes the action at Northfield Park, estimates that he will call 3,802 races this year. "That's at two tracks (Thistledown and Northfield), five county fairs and two harness matinees," said Ratliff. "I figure I'm working 330 cards, day or night, or both, this year.
(For more information contact Bob Roberts, Thistledown publicity, 216-956-0762)