West Point Thoroughbreds scored its 1,000th win Sunday when Phantom Smoke sped to victory in Race 2 at Saratoga. Founded in 1991 by Terry and Debbie Finley, the partnership company is in its 32nd racing season.
“This is a wonderful milestone for West Point and all the partners we've had along the way, thousands of people who have entrusted us with their aspirations and their investment in horse racing,” Terry Finley said. “I can't thank them enough. What a game Thoroughbred racing is, take it from me, we started with a $5,000 claimer at Philadelphia Park and that was an awesome experience; I'll never forget the feeling when we won our first race. It never gets old. 1,000 is a very nice round number to look back and reflect and appreciate the partners, the horses, the riders and the trainers and their staffs. I thank them all.”
West Point's record stands at 1,000 wins from 5,687 starts.
“One big point of pride, and I have to commend our trainers through the years for being able to say this, is that we have never had a horse come up with a positive drug test,” Finley said
Irad Ortiz Jr. guided Phantom Smoke, a 4-year-old New York-bred trained by Christophe Clement. He earned his third career win Sunday, despite breaking through the starting gate prior to the start.
“Of course he did,” Finley chuckled.
West Point Thoroughbreds By the Numbers
1,000 wins
138 stakes wins
60 Graded stakes wins
15 Grade 1 wins
$63,370,433 in purse earnings
Leading earner and most wins for the stable: Awesome Gem (11 wins, including Hollywood Gold Cup (G1) in 2010, $2,881,370, now resides at Old Friends in Kentucky).
2017 Kentucky Derby (G1) with Always Dreaming
First winner: Sun Belt at Philadelphia Park, September 4, 1991, in a $10,000 claimer
Co-owner of Flightline, 4-for-4 lifetime, winner of the Metropolitan Handicap (G1) by six lengths on June 11 at Belmont, now pointing for the TVG Pacific Classic (G1) on September 3 at Del Mar.
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