Veteran pacer Silent Swing reached a special career milestone on Saturday night as he recorded his 50th career triumph in the eighth race $32,000 Winners Over Pace at Yonkers Raceway.
With Tim Tetrick in the sulky, Silent Swing fired off the gate from the outside starting spot in the eight-horse field and worked his way to the top during a :27-second opening quarter.
The $1.78 million earner then led the pacers to the half in :55.4 before Here We Go Again (Yannick Gingras) tipped to the outside from third at the five-eighths mark. With Here We Go Again looming on the outside and Shortstacked (George Brennan) on his cover, Silent Swing raced on past three-quarters in 1:24.1 and the one-mile marker in 1:52.2.
Down the stretch, Silent Swing came under attack from both sides with Here We Go Again to his outside and pocket-sitter Art Two D Two (Tyler Buter) slipping up the pylons, but he managed to hold on for the milestone victory, stopping the clock in 1:59.3 for the mile and one-sixteenth distance. Art Two D Two finished half a length behind with Here Wo Go Again finishing third.
Silent Swing paid $10 to win. Trainer Mark Ford and David Shea of Campbellville, Ont. co-own the nine-year-old Northern Luck-Shecant Say No gelding, who has won 10 times in 34 starts this year while earning over $245,000.
Among Silent Swing's 50 wins include the 2004 Canadian Breeders Championship, 2005 Clearwater Cup, 2007 Gold Cup & Saucer, and 2008 and 2009 editions of the Des Smith Classic.
He now sports a record reading 50-27-22 in 189 career starts.