Trainer Bill McLean Scores 1,000th Victory

Trainer Bill McLean recorded his 1,000th victory Feb. 7, when Moogie Woogie skimmed the rail to capture the fifth race at Golden Gate Fields.



Moogie Woogie ($11) saved ground under jockey Kyle Frey and forged to the front after he found an opening in upper stretch en route to a neck victory in the $12,500 conditioned claiming race for 4-year-olds and up.



McLean sent out a pair of longshots to pick up his 997th and 999th, scoring with Pure Comedy ($102.40) Jan. 31 and Private Joke ($143.20) Feb. 6. Win No. 998 came with Thisgirlsforpapa ($4) Feb. 4. He has won with seven of his last 19 starters.



"I was talking to Russell Baze and he told me, 'When I was getting close to 10,000 (wins) I couldn't win a race,' " McLean said. "I was hoping it would be different for me. Kyle rode a perfect race. We're there, mate."



McLean is a native of Cloverdale, British Columbia and worked under Northwest trainers Carl Baze and Troy Taylor before going out on his own in 1971. He split time between the Northwest and Northern California before permanently relocating to the Bay Area in 1998.



Stakes winners trained by McLean include Harlen's Agency, Isle Deliver, Jessie Janey, Lil Sneeker, Money by Choice, and Take Her to Heart.