When J M Rambo crossed the finish line first in Freehold Raceway’s 12th race on Saturday, it was not just another victory for driver Jim Pantaleano

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For the 47-year-old native of Cleveland, Ohio, it was his 5,000th victory lifetime.

Pantaleano drove his first race when he was 16 years old at a matinee fair in Ohio. He won his first pari-mutuel event at Northfield Park in Cleveland in 1986 and has enjoyed success ever since.

Pantaleano expressed his biggest thrill came when he won the 2003 Battle Of Lake Erie at Northfield with Peruvian Hanover.

His most gratifying moment came last year when Catello Manzi asked him to drive some of the horses he owned when he was sidelined from injury. “Cat, to me, is the greatest driver ever and when the best asked me to fill in, I was flattered.

“I handicap each race I’m driving in and try to figure out a strategy that would give me the best chance of winning.”

When asked what he attributes his success to, he said simply, “hard work and perseverance."

Finally Pantaleano made it clear that he considered himself very fortunate to have the opportunities through the years to reach such an impressive plateau of 5,000 victories.

(Freehold Raceway)