Tony Morgan entered hallowed ground on Sunday at Harrington Raceway, as he became the fourth driver in North American harness racing history to reach 13,000 wins after piloting Real Navigator ($4) to victory in the eighth race.

 

Morgan and Real Navigator grinded first-over at pacesetting Cardio Yankee and finally edged clear in the stretch to reach the milestone.

 

"It means I'm getting old," said Morgan of his 13,000th win. "Things have worked out well in Delaware. A lot of people welcomed me here in the beginning and I was fortunate to catch on with some good trainers."

 

Only Herve Filion, Catello Manzi, and Dave Palone have reached the 13,000 win plateau in North America. Palone reached 13,000 wins earlier this year.

 

Morgan registered three wins prior to his 13,000th on the program, including two Delaware Standardbred Breeders Fund 3-year-old stake eliminations for trotters with Thomas Lail's colt Special Command (2:00.3) and Mark Waterman's filly T P Lucy (2:02.2).

 

Five DSBF $20,000 divisions were contested. Vicki Givens and Sherri and Blake Baker's colt Bakermill Blake (1:58.3, Bob Shahan) was the fastest winnner. Nanticoke Racing and Mark King's filly Bristy Crinkley (2:00.4, Les Givens) and Pamela Wagner's filly Ja's Commando (2:01, Victor Kirby)won the other divisions.

 

The second leg of the DSBF events for trotters gets underway next Sunday, June 21, while the pacing fillies get started Tuesday, June 16. The pacing colt eliminations will commence Wednesday, June 17. (Harrington)