Screencap of Silkentown returning victorious for trainer John McKee.

Screencap of Silkentown returning victorious for trainer John McKee.

Silkentown nipped Ghazi’s Stone by a head in the opener Wednesday evening at Charles Town, and that narrow margin gave trainer John D. McKee his 1,000th career victory.

Silkentown, making the ninth start of her career, tracked dueling leaders from fourth place under rider Antonio Lopez early in the 4 1/2 furlong maiden claiming event.  She came three wide rounding the turn, engaged with leaders Ghazi’s Stone and Utter Drama in the lane, and narrowly proved best.  The three year-old filly (Speightstown-Starry Pursuit, by Van Nistelrooy), who is also owned by McKee, now has a career mark of 9-1-3-1 with earnings of $22,410.

For John McKee, the numbers are much larger.  The veteran conditioner has now won 1,000 of exactly 10,000 career starts.  He’s also finished second 1,095 times and third 1,149 times and boasts career earnings of $10,350,624.

For 2014, McKee’s ledger is 111-10-11-17 with earnings of $182,323.