Ryan Stahl scored the 3,000th win of his career while driving Manny Shuffle in Northfield Park’s fifth race on Friday, Dec. 21 by boldly looming from the back to pass the competition.
Manny Shuffle paced his successful mile in 2:03.1, winning by a neck in the blowing snow.
Stahl’s richest win came in a $100,000 Ohio Sire Stakes Final and he has won six Sire Stakes Finals. The native of Republic, Ohio rates the most exciting horse he has ever driven as being Hypnotic Blue Chip, in the 2011 Battle of Lake Erie.
“It was an honour to drive a world-class horse like him,” said Stahl.
His favourite horse he drove with regularity is back-to-back Ohio Triple Crown winner Jesses Messenger.
“I drove her for Kent Sherman," he said. "Kent is one of my best friends in the business.”
The 34-year-old Stahl remembers his first win as being aboard a trotting filly named Lojos Sharp Baby, at the Oak Harbor (Ohio) Fairgrounds.
“That win came about a week after I got my license,” Stahl recalled.
With 3,000 to choose from, Stahl says that his most memorable win came aboard Podges Lady, in the 2012 edition of the Courageous Lady.
“It is a signature race here at Northfield and it really meant a lot,” said the reinsman.
Stahl started driving at the age of 14 and appreciates his success so far; accomplishing the 3,000-win milestone and having driven the winners of nearly $9.3 million.
(Northfield Park)