Brennan Reaches 9,000 Wins; Stratton Scores Five-Bagger

One of harness racing’s all-time greats and an outstanding young sulky star both were both in the winner’s circle spotlight last week at Yonkers Raceway. George Brennan started off the proceedings on Monday when he reached the career 9,000 win plateau. Jordan Stratton bagged five wins on Friday night, including the $40,000 featured Open Handicap Pace.

Brennan swept Monday night’s late daily double at the historic half-mile oval at Empire City Casino, vaulting to the big career milestone in the second half. Ron Burke fittingly trained both horses. Twin B Scandal ($4.90) and Givenupdreaming ($3.10) were the winning duo, stopping the clock in 1:53.4 and 1:53.1, respectively, and putting Brennan in the record books.

“All milestones are special,” Brennan said. “I’d been thinking about (the number) a bit, and I knew I was if was going to get it tonight (Monday), I was running out of chances.

“Needing to win the last two races and having those two trained by Ronnie (Burke) made it pretty cool. We remain very loyal to one another and in the end it pays off.”

Brennan, a 48-year-old native of Monticello, NY, was just a high school junior when he won his first race in 1982. Rob Ron Romper was the winner, and it took place at his hometown racetrack. Brennan has career purse earnings exceed $152 million. According to U-S Trotting Association statistics, the two-time Yonkers driving champ ranks 17th all-time in wins and eighth in purses.

Friday the 13th proved to be no problem for Mr. Stratton. Sell a Bit N, a repeat winner in the $40,000 Filly and Mare Open Handicap Pace, gave Jordan Stratton a five-bagger on Friday night. The mare led wire to window through fractions of :28, :57.1, 1:25.3, stopping the clock in a sizzling 1:53.2. The 5-year-old Down Under daughter of Julius Caesar is owned by Harry von Knoblauch and trained by Peter Tritton. It was her seventh win in 18 seasonal starts.