Trainer Michael Biehler was 25 years old in 1989 when he sent out his first winner, and now at age 59 he won for the 1,000th time in his career when Medalla Match captured the eighth race on Friday night at Remington Park.
Biehler's first trip to a winner's circle was July 1, 1989 with Raise a Wolf in a $5,000 maiden claiming race at Canterbury Park in Minnesota. His first win at Remington Park was on April 9, 1994 with Gato Macho.
Friday night's milestone victory was in a 7 1/2-furlong turf allowance race for fillies and mares. Medalla Match covered trip in 1:30.83 and led from the half-mile pole on with Stewart Elliott aboard.
“This is really exciting for me,” Biehler said of his 1,000th win. “I never had a number like this in mind when I first started. I've had some big wins at Remington Park. This was great and I'll never forget this, but it's hard to top winning the Oklahoma Derby with Wally's Choice in 2004. He was the longest shot on the board (33-1 odds) and I really didn't think he had a chance that day. He came from dead last with Quinonez up. That was my only graded stakes win. I'll never forget that one or this one.”
Biehler watched Medalla Match provide the milestone victory from his travel trailer on lake in Minnesota with coverage from the RTN network. He didn't have much choice because he has horses entered at Canterbury on Saturday. The milestone celebrations will have to be postponed as well.
“Yeah, I have to get up at 4 a.m.,” said Biehler, said with a laugh. Medalla Match, a 5-year-old mare by Summer Front out of the Bernardini mare Channel of Gold, went off as the prohibitive favorite at 1-2 odds. She took all the suspense out of the milestone, pulling away in the stretch to win by three lengths, but Biehler enjoyed his sixth win over the past two nights.
“She's a nice mare,” said Biehler, “and I think they picked her up for about $7,500. Bought her sight unseen.”
Medalla Match ($3) is owned by Twisted Chaps Racing Stables (John Morris) of Edmond, Okla. They pocketed $22,749 from the $38,000 purse. The mare improved her record 6-3-1 from 18 career starts and earnings of $147,482. The winner was bred in Kentucky by Jane Wiggins.
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