by Ken Weingartner, Harness Racing Communications

Freehold, NJ — Jordan “The Kid” Stratton on February 20 became only the second driver in harness racing history to reach 1,000 career wins prior to the age of 22.

Mike Lizzi photo

Jordan Stratton won his 1,000th career race on Friday at Yonkers.

Stratton, who is 21, attained the milestone when he guided Iwannabesedated to a 2-1/2 length victory in the 13th race at Yonkers Raceway. Walter Case, Jr. also reached 1,000 wins at the age of 21 in 1982.

“My job is to win races,” Stratton said. “I don’t really think about it. It’s just what I do. You don’t really think about how good you’re doing, you’re just trying to win every race you’re in.”

Stratton, a native of Ottawa, Ohio, was joined in the winner’s circle by his father, Dave, and mother, Jeanine.

“They had to wait around to the last race, so I’m sure they weren’t too happy about that,” Stratton said, laughing.

Last year, Stratton won 630 races, good for fifth place in North America. This season, through Sunday, he had 56 victories.

He was glad to put No. 1,000 in the books.

“There was just added pressure that didn’t need to be there,” Stratton said. “I’m hard enough on myself. After every race, there would be like 30 people asking whether I got it and you feel like the whole world is watching.”

Stratton will be better prepared for the attention in the future. He knows that if people are watching, it’s usually for a good reason.

“Hopefully,” he said, “I’ll have many more of those moments.”