On Wednesday, June 18 at Northfield Park, AJ Cress paced home for his 50th career victory.

The 12-year-old veteran has made 339 career starts. The gelding has also recorded 54 second-place finishes and 64 thirds. He has banked $119,323 in career purse earnings and took his 1:55.3 mark over Northfield at age nine. The pacer’s richest win was for a purse of $5,000 in a conditioned claiming event at Hoosier Park in 2005. His 50 wins have been spread across nine different racing surfaces in three different states.

AJ Cress started from Post 4 on Wednesday and let his competition set fractions of :28.4, :58.4 and 1:28. He went three-wide around the final turn and was a nose to the good as he crossed the finish line in 1:57.4 over a ‘sloppy’ surface. AJ Cress was an upset winner and returned $27.80 to Win.

Mark Headworth of Oregon, Ohio owns, trains and drove AJ Cress to this milestone triumph.

(With files from Northfield)