Borth earns 2,000th victory

Harness racing driver Tyler Borth secured a harness racing milestone as he drove his 2,000th winner on Friday (Dec. 6) at Woodbine Mohawk Park.

With just one win needed to reach the plateau, his second-race charge, Mikki Sixx (Always B Miki), ensured the driver wouldn’t have to wait long. Borth drove on with the filly to seize control at the quarter, and she was in command for the remainder. She edged away from the field on the final turn and fired clear, scorching home to a seven-and-a-half-length victory in 1:54.1.

MIKKI SIX REPLAY

Borth received a commemorative placard for the milestone in the winner’s circle. The reinsman, who racked up more than 400 tallies last year, reached 2,000 wins in his 14,360th start. He has driven his mounts to earnings of more than $15.8 million since his debut in 2012.

Mikki Six, with her first-division Niagara Series win, is now seven-for-nine with $66,630 in earnings in her rookie season. Susanne Kerwood trains the three-year-old for Frank Brundle and Ryan Bender.

Borth immediately returned to the winner’s circle, scoring again as he steered Oh A Legend (Bit Of A Legend N) to victory in the second Niagara Series split. He brushed the mare from fourth to the front in the second quarter, and she held off Grit N Grace (Bob McClure) down the lane to score in 1:54.2 by three-quarters-of-a-length. Mother Mary (Louis-Philippe Roy) was third.

OH A LEGEND REPLAY

Oh A Legend has won three straight races and five overall in 19 outings this season. The Christopher Bush-trained filly, who started the season in New York, has earned $59,191. Bush co-owns her with Bernie Klacer.

Illinois invaders Fox Valley Tessa (Time To Roll) and Kyle Husted got in on the milestone action, earning the reinsman his 1,000th victory in the third division.

The filly, pocketed in the second quarter, kicked off the pylons on the far turn and hunted down leader Always B Merry (James MacDonald). Fox Valley Tessa shook free in the final 1/16th of a mile and stopped the clock in 1:55.1.

Always B Merry was beaten a length in second. Kiera Seelster (Jonathan Drury) finished third.

FOX VALLEY TESSA REPLAY

Fox Valley Tessa, who won the Plum Peachy on Illinois Night of Champions two starts ago, is now four-for-21 lifetime with $183,368 in earnings. Husted Racing, John Schwarz Jr., Wilson Rigg, and Scott Rigg acquired the filly after that victory and gave her one more start at Hawthorne before bringing her to Mohawk. Husted, interviewed in the paddock earlier on Friday night, said they had the Niagara Series in mind when they purchased her as part of a package from the prior owners. Amy Husted trains the filly.

Kyle Husted has driven in 9,242 races in his 18 years in the bike. The native and resident of Altamont has driven horses to more than $9.1 million in earnings, racing mainly in his home state of Illinois.

The second leg of the Niagara Series is set for Dec. 13.

The next winter series, the Valedictory for three-year-old pacing males, begins on Woodbine Mohawk Park’s next card on Saturday, Dec. 7. First post will be 7:10 p.m. EST.

For complete race results, click here.

by Nicholas Barnsdale, for Harnesslink