Veteran Arlington Park trainer Gene Cilio celebrated his 74th birthday twice Friday when he took the last two races of the day for Crown's Way Farm with Lil' Joe in the eighth and Octagon in the ninth. Cilio operates Crown's Way Farm with his brother Ron DiCicilia. Together the two Cilio winners combined for a $29.80 late daily double.
Cilio moved into second place in the Arlington trainer standings with six winners. While well behind the pace of leading trainer Wayne Catalano, who has saddled 14 winners through Friday, Cilio did move into the top spot in purse earnings, $900 ahead of Catalano.