Kiaran McLaughlin notched his 1,000th North American victory March 16 when Que Posse won the eighth race at Aqueduct (VIDEO).
“I think it means the most to me that Art Magnuson, and Neal (brother), my two main assistants, have been there for all 1,000 wins and that we’ve been together for all the victories,” said McLaughlin by telephone from Florida. “I’d like to thank Sheikh Mohammed and all my owners for their support over the years.”
The milestone win came in an optional claiming race at six furlongs on Aqueduct's inner track. Que Posse is a 5-year-old Kentucky-bred son of Posse owned by NYKY Thoroughbred Stable. The gelding, ridden by Eddie Castro, registered a 2 1/4-length win at odds of 10-1.
McLaughlin, who trained 2006 Horse of the Year Invasor and 2006 Belmont Stakes (gr. I) winner Jazil, tallied the majority of his victories in New York, including 270 wins at Belmont Park, 101 at Saratoga, and 305 at Aqueduct.
McLaughlin, 51, won his first New York training title in 2008 when he edged close friend Todd Pletcher to top the standings at Saratoga. Born in Lexington, Ky., McLaughlin worked for several trainers before becoming an assistant to D. Wayne Lukas, for whom he supervised the campaigns of several New York-based Eclipse Award winners.
After serving as the jockey agent for the late Chris Antley, in 1993 he began training for Sheikh Mohammed during the racing season in Dubai. He returned to the United Arab Emirates annually until 2003, when he gave up the travel.
While in the United Arab Emirates, McLaughlin won more than 300 races and was three times the leading trainer at Nad al Sheba Race Course. In 2007, he returned to win the Dubai World Cup (UAE-I) with Invasor, who in 2006 won the Breeders’ Cup Classic (gr. I).