Canadian Todd Kabel Rides 3,000th Winner

(from Woodbine report)
Jockey Todd Kabel collected his 3,000th lifetime win in Woodbine's second race on Saturday afternoon.

Kabel's partner for the victory was 2-year-old Stronach Stables' filly Sprightly, a daughter of Wild Rush trained by Bobby Frankel and saddled by assistant Brian Lynch.

"It's a great honor and a great achievement," said Kabel. "I have a lot of people to thank, including the fans, the horsemen, my agent John Bell and my family. It was a close race, my filly was looking around a bit, but she dug in and we got the job done."

Sprightly, sent off as the favorite in the seven furlong turf race, won by a neck and paid $4.90.

Kabel, who began 2005 with 2,908 wins, led the jockey's colony in wins (156), stakes wins (36) and purse earnings ($10,467,570) in 2004.

When it comes to stakes success, Kabel is undoubtedly one of Canada's most distinguished riders. With 36 Woodbine stakes scores over the 2004 season, the 39-year-old equaled a record set by Avelino Gomez in 1966. The Manitoba native also received his fifth Sovereign Award (fourth as outstanding jockey).

In his 22nd year, Kabel won his first race at Winnipeg's Assiniboia Downs in 1984 aboard Forli's Ainikel.

Kabel has won the Queen's Plate twice, with Regal Discovery in 1995 and Scatter the Gold in 2000. Last year, Kabel captured the Atto Mile (Can-I) with eventual Canadian Horse of the Year Soaring Free.

Other multiple-stakes winners for Kabel include Quiet Resolve and Strut the Stage.

(Chart, Equibase)