Garrett Rooney opened Leamington Raceway's Sunday afternoon (Sept. 26) program with a pair of winning drives to reach the 1,000 milestone mark.
The 37-year-old Iona, Ont. reinsman entered the card needing just two wins to reach the career milestone and he got to work right away winning the opener with 3-2 favourite Siboney, who took the lead at the third quarter mark and held off LDL Gem by a neck at the finish line in 1:59 for trainer Jim Jarvis and owner Alma Jarvis of Essex, Ont.
Going for win 1,000 in the next race, Rooney looped 1-2 favourite Dandy Idea around the quick-leaving Lady Natasha at the quarter pole and took off to score by 5-3/4 lengths in 1:57.2. The four-year-old Mach Three mare is trained by William Leon Jr. and owned by Andrea Leon of Maidstone, Ont. Hokie Dokie finished second and Lady Natasha followed in third.
Rooney, whose mounts have earned in excess of $5.2 million, topped the 100-win mark four consecutive seasons prior to the COVID-19 pandemic from 2016-2019. He earned a career-high 139 wins in 2017.
Rooney, who earned one more win during the back-half of the 10-race card, now has 69 victories this year and more than $300,000 in purse earnings. He's driven 22 of those winners at Leamington to top the leaderboard at the Essex County oval and ranks among the top 10 drivers this year at Dresden Raceway, Hiawatha Horse Park and The Raceway at Western Fair District.
To view Sunday's harness racing results, click on the following link: Sunday Results - Leamington Raceway.