YONKERS, NY, Friday, October 19, 2018- Driver George Brennan won the 10,000th race of his harness racing career Friday night (Oct. 19th), doing so at his second home, Yonkers Raceway.
Brennan, who entered the night with 9,998 wins, immediately knocked off the 'to do' list when he took down the chalky daily double in the down-the-road fashion.
Top of the Mark ($6) won in the $17,000 pacing opener in 1:54.3, his second consecutive win after beginning the season 0-for-27.
Our Zak Whitby A ($2.80) was a never-in-doubt, two-length winner (life-best 1:52.3) in the $23,000 second-race pace.
The 4-4 Brennan-Brennan double returned $10.20.
Brennan, who become the 16th North American driver to reach that five-figure number, had a rather large welcoming committee in the winner's circle, including his stepfather, Joe Ricco Jr., several drivers and racing officials.
The 51-year-old Brennan, a native of Monticello, NY, took the latest milestone in stride.
"It's a good number, but nothing I was aiming for, but I understand it's significant," he said.
Brennan won his first race–behind Rob Ron Romper–at his hometown track as a high school junior back in 1982. His career purse earnings of approximately $171.8 million ranks seventh in the all-time list.
A quarter-moving Rockstar Angel A (Eric Goodell, $8.90) held sway Friday night (Oct. 19th), winning Yonkers Raceway’s $44,000 Filly and Mare Open Handicap Pace.
Away third from assigned post position No. 2, Rockstar Angel moved past early leavers Artrageous (Mark Macdonald) and Bettorhaveanother (Mr. 10,000, George Brennan) right before a :27.2 opening quarter-mile.
She then found a :56.2 intermission before 17-10 fave Mach it a Par (Jason Bartlett) tried it first-up from sixth. The people’s preference did advance toward a 1:25.1 three-quarters, but Rockstar Angel A owned a length lead off the final turn.
The lass then found more in the lane, winning by tne same margin in 1:53.3.
Artrageous knifed though late to snatch second, with Mach it a Par third. Medusa (Joe Bongiorno) and Keystone Wanda (Jim Marohn Jr.) settled for the minors.
For second choice Rockstar Angel A, a 6-year-old down under daughter of Rocknroll Hanover owned by Northfork Racing Stable and trained by Chris Oakes, it was her eighth win in 24 seasonal starts The exacta paid $32, the triple returned $83.50 and the superfecta paid $479.50.
by Frank Drucker, for Yonkers Raceway