Driver Brent Holland won the 5,000th race of his career on Friday night (June 23), doing so at his place of residence, Yonkers Raceway.
Holland and Delightful Dragon ($7.40) lasted on the lead by a scant schnoz in the sixth race $40,000 Filly and Mare Preferred Handicap Pace, giving the 46-year-old (as of this past Sunday) the milestone (season’s-best 1:53.2) mile.
The affable Holland is a native of Wilmington, Ohio, who began working with horses for a neighbour, Maynard Hagemeyer.
"He and Bob Farrington in Chicago both taught me a lot," Holland said.
His first winner came in in his first parimutuel start, as an 18-year-old with longshot E Cs Best in 1989 at Lebanon Raceway..."pouring down rain," he said. "When I won my first, I used to look up to all the great drivers and never thought about a number like 5,000," Holland said.
Asked for some winner’s circle wit, Holland offered that ‘The horse did all the work.’ In the case, the hard-working lass -- now four-for-18 this season -- is a six-year-old daughter of Bettors Delight owned and trained by Noel Daley.
Holland, who migrated east from the Chicagoland circuit not quite a decade ago, has more than $54.2 million in career purses. He was joined by his wife, Dee, and friends for a winner's circle presentation.
Freeze Out Wins Mares Open
Freeze Out (George Brennan, $13.60) did just that to her rivals Friday night, administering a beating in Yonkers Raceway’s $55,000 Filly and Mare Open Handicap Pace.
The field was pared to seven after Betabcool N was scratched-lame after the post parade.
Away an early second from post position No. 2, Freeze Out found herself third after last week’s victress, I Said Diamonds (Matt Kakaley), two-moved to the lead. Settled though early intervals of :27.1 and :55.3, Freeze Out challenged and conquered down the backside the second time.
She ground down ‘Diamonds’ well before a 1:23.3 three-quarters, slapping a half-dozen length on the lasses in and out of the final turn. The final margin was a wrapped-up three lengths in life-best 1:52. Jewel Lehigh A (Dan Dube) did get into second, with Lispatty (Mark MacDonald) third. Sell A Bit N (Jordan Stratton) and Hidden Land (Brian Sears) rounded out the payees, while the 9-10 fave I Said Diamonds walked home sixth.
For fifth choice Freeze Out, a four-year-old daughter of American Ideal co-owned by (trainer) Ricky and Sean Bucci, the win was her eighth in 16 seasonal starts. The exacta paid $199, the triple returned $991 and the superfecta paid $2,347.
A friendly reminder from Yonkers Raceway that Saturday evening’s (June 24) Pick 5 wager starts with a carryover of $3,660.17.
The Pick 5 is a 50-cent base wager comprising races seven through 11 during every racing card. It has no consolation payoff, meaning if no one selects all five winners (as was the case Friday night), the entire pool (minus takeout) moves to the next racing program.
(Yonkers Raceway)