Trainer Philip T. Aristone earned his 1,000th victory when Delta Miner won the 10th race at Philadelphia Park Dec. 8.
Ridden by Victor Molina for Aristone's family-owned Indian Mills Stock Farm, Delta Miner dueled on the front end in the $12,500 claiming event at six furlongs and outlasted favored Grand Motion for a three-quarters of a length triumph.
The victory was the 56th of the year for Aristone at Philadelphia Park, which ranks him fifth in the trainer standings. He also has 59 seconds and 48 thirds from 384 starts with earnings of $1,289,987 through Dec. 8.
Aristone finished sixth in the Philadelphia Park trainer standings in 2008 with a record of 56-57-50 from 384 starts and earnings of $1,290,191.
In addition to his training duties, Aristone is a trainer/director for the Pennsylvania Thoroughbred Horsemen's Association.
Indian Mills Stock Farm, built by Aristone's late father Roland, is located in New Jersey. Bombay Duck and King Celebrity were two of the stallions that stood there. Among the horses Aristone has trained for Indian Mills is 2007 Pennsylvania Horse of the Year Speechifying, winner of the $250,000 My Juliet Stakes at Philly Park.
Aristone's brother, Menotti, was a jockey. A second brother, Roland, Jr., currently oversees the farm operation. Aristone initially worked as an assistant to Ben Perkins from 1974. He took over the family's string of horses in 1980 when Perkins opened up a public stable.
