Veteran trainer Jimmy Toner celebrated a landmark achievement on Sunday as Siege of Boston secured victory in the $70,000 Empire Builder overnight handicap at Gulfstream Park, giving the Hall of Fame-level horseman his 900th career win.
Jimmy Toner Wins 900th Race
The milestone victory added another memorable moment to a career spanning more than six decades, with Toner’s latest success coming from Joseph Allen’s seven-year-old gelding, who has been the standout performer from his current six-horse stable.
Jimmy Toner 900th career win became a historic milestone as the veteran trainer added another major achievement to his remarkable journey in racing.
Ridden by Samy Camacho for the first time, Siege of Boston produced a strong finish in the one-mile turf event, splitting rivals in the stretch before surging past Tank close to the wire to score by half a length. The winning time was 1:33.37 on a firm course.
The victory marked the sixth career success for Siege of Boston and his first at stakes level. The Empire Builder field also featured accomplished runners including dual Grade 3 winner Making the Cut and multiple stakes winner Prevent.
The achievement came in Siege of Boston’s 30th career start. The son of War Front joined Toner’s stable in the summer of 2022 and had previously recorded several strong performances in stakes company, including three Grade 3 placings and a runner-up finish in the 2024 Canadian Turf at Gulfstream Park.
Siege of Boston had not raced since a May 30 victory at Laurel Park but returned in excellent form to provide Toner with a special milestone win.
The race began with Tank taking the early lead while Private Thoughts applied pressure through the opening stages. The opening quarter-mile was covered in 23.57 seconds, followed by a half-mile split of 47 seconds.
Siege of Boston settled behind the leaders before making his move around the far turn. As the field entered the straight, Camacho found a clear path between rivals, allowing the gelding to accelerate and chase down Tank in the final furlong.
Tank finished second, 1½ lengths ahead of I Know I Know, who completed the top three. Missed the Cut, Indecisiveness, Prevent and Private Thoughts followed behind.
The victory continued a remarkable career for Toner, who began working on the backstretch as a teenager in the 1950s before saddling his first runners in 1960. Over the decades, he has recorded 54 graded stakes victories, including 15 at Grade 1 level, while his runners have earned more than $36.5 million in prize money.
Toner has built much of his reputation through success with outstanding turf performers, including champion Soaring Softly, who captured the 1999 Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf (G1) at Gulfstream Park. His celebrated stable stars have also included Memories of Silver, Wonder Again, Winter Memories and Time and Motion.
With Siege of Boston delivering career win number 900, Toner added another chapter to one of the longest and most respected careers in American racing history.
For more stories, results, and updates from the world of horse racing, stay tuned to RaceBuzz