Leon Bailey gets to 1000 wins

Leon Bailey reached a career milestone on Wednesday afternoon at Saratoga Casino Hotel as the three-time Vernon Downs leading harness racing driver recorded his 1,000th lifetime win.

Bailey sat behind the Kyle Spagnola-trained Better Crunch (Captain Crunch) in an $8,000 conditional race for fillies and mares.

Better Crunch came into the race off her maiden score which came last week. The four year old mare drew the rail once again on Wednesday and carved out the fractions on the front-end with Bailey at the controls. Better Crunch went coast-to-coast in 1:58.1 to record her second consecutive win and give Bailey his 1000th career victory.

Owned by Mark Rowland and Spagnola Racing LLC, Better Crunch paid $12.40 in the mild upset.

Bailey was presented with a sign commemorating his career milestone while in the winner’s circle following the Wednesday score. Bailey wasted little time acquiring win number 1,001 as he guided the Dale Lawton-trained Excursion to victory in the matinee’s finale.  

BETTER CRUNCH REPLAY

Live racing resumes on Sunday afternoon at Saratoga with a 12pm start.  

For complete race results, click here: US Trotting results.

by Mike Sardella, for Saratoga Raceway