LAKE, PINO CLOSE IN ON MILESTONES
LAUREL, MD. 12-08-10---Scott Lake moved to within two victories of becoming the sixth trainer in North American history to win 5,000 races when Call of a Lion was a popular winner of Wednesday’s second race at Laurel Park. The 4-year-old filly paid $3 while beating six other bottom level claimers.
Only Dale Baird (9,445), Jack Van Berg (6,405), King Leatherbury (6,312), Jerry Hollendorfer (5,824) and Steve Asmussen (5,677) have more first place finishes.
At the turn of the century, Lake had fewer than 700 career victories but has won 4,318 races from Jan. 1, 2000 to Dec. 8, 2010, including 969 at Laurel and Pimlico Race Course.
YEAR OVERALL (Rank) MARYLAND (Rank)
2000 337 (1st) 107 (2nd)
2001 407 (1st) 126 (2nd)
2002 400 (2nd) 76 (3rd)
2003 455 (1st) 72 (2nd)
2004 374 (2nd) 39 (6th)
2005 417 (2nd) 70 (1st)
2006 528 (1st) 114 (1st)
2007 485 (2nd) 113 (1st)
2008 421 (2nd) 113 (1st)
2009 306 (2nd) 89 (1st)
2010 (through Dec. 8) 188 (9th) 50 (2nd)
The Lake barn has one starter tonight at Penn National but nothing at any track Thursday. The 45-year-old could reach the magic number Friday when he has one scheduled starter at Laurel (Anthony the Tiger-race 9) and another at Penn National. He has six chances Saturday with three each at Laurel and Philadelphia Park.
Mario Pino is one victory shy of 6,300 after a score aboard Let Me Be Frank ($4.20) in this afternoon’s seventh race. The 49-year-old has only one mount Thursday (Star Anna-race 7) but is named on six horses Friday and five Saturday.
“Every 100 past 6,000 is an accomplishment,” said Pino, who became the 15th rider in history to reach the 6,000-win plateau in Nov. 2007. “I am not riding a lot of horses every day but my goal is to finish in the top ten all-time.” Hall of Famer Sandy Hawley currently ranks 10th with 6,450 victories.
Pino ranked in the top five in the Maryland standings for 25 straight years (1979-2003) but is best known as the regular rider on Hard Spun, who in 2007 finished second in the Kentucky Derby and Breeders’ Cup Classic and third in the Preakness Stakes.
YOKO WINS FOURTH RACE BUT THEN DQ’D
On the 30th anniversary of John Lennon’s death, hunch players were sure to wager a few dollars on Yoko in Laurel’s fourth race. The 2-year-old filly crossed the finish line first at odds of 7-2 but was disqualified and placed fifth after the stewards decided jockey Walter Llagas interfered with Dance Raven Dance leaving the starting gate.
Cat Speak, who finished second, was the beneficiary and picked up the victory in her debut. Forest Boyce, on her first day as a journeyman rider, got the victory for trainer Gary Capuano. She tops the fall standings with 62 trips to the winners’ circle and is tied with Erick Rodriguez for the year-round lead (each with 95 wins) with seven live racing days remaining in the calendar year.
-mjc-
Mike Gathagan
Vice President-Communications
Maryland Jockey Club
410-578-4461 (Pimlico)
301-470-5461 (Laurel Park)
240-876-7403 (Mobile)
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