Jim Fergason got his 1,000th win as a trainer after Mo’s Flashy Date won the first race of the 2012 season at Portland Meadows
The 18th of January turned out to be a landmark achievement day for trainer Jim Fergason, who posted the 1,000th victory through his trainee, Mo’s Flashy Date.
Jim Fergason was destined to discover success after success at Portland Meadows which he considered as his hometown ever since moving there in 1969, the year that also marks his debut win of his training career.
It has been nearly more than four decades that the trainer has contributed endlessly for the track in the form of some top of the line horses, and has also been rewarded back consistently for it.
Jim Fergason has been honoured by being presented six training titles till yet, and has quite a few stakes events under his belt that also came through Portland Meadows.
His trainee, Wisco Cat won him the OTOBA Futurity, and he also was able to win the $40,000 Auburn Handicap that was held in 2004, and was won by Crimson Design.
The 1,000th success became possible when the four-year-old Mo’s Flashy Date, the chestnut gelding of Nacheezmo out of Crimson Date, was building up his own profile by winning the seventh race.
This race also marked the very first success for Mo’s Flashy Date at the beginning of the new season. The race on dirt was over a distance of five furlongs and 110 yards at the Portland Meadows that attracted ten contestants to participate.
Riding with jockey Mark Anderson, Mo’s Flashy Date finished the race first and was ahead by a length. He was followed by Sonja’s Fire Fly, who was second, and Charlesisnoprince was third in line after the winner.
The four-year-old did the owner and breeder, Marvin Pietila, proud by winning the $2,500 claiming race.
“I’m happy I got this win here,” said Fergason. “Probably 900 of those wins came right here so I’m really happy about that”.
The beginning of the year has been a dream come true for Jim Fergason, as it is an accomplishment that many trainers fail to see throughout their lifetimes. If the beginning has been so blessed for the horse and his trainer then it will not take them
very long to make more news.
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