Delaware: Win Willy surpasses $1 million milestone by taking Joe French Memorial

Win Willy became Thoroughbred racing’s latest millionaire when he made up a five-length deficit in the final furlong to win Saturday’s $50,250 Joe French Memorial Stakes at Delaware Park.

The 7-year-old Win Willy ($7), ridden by Alex Cintron for trainer Mac Robertson and owner Jer-Mar Stable, has now won 11 of 32 starts and $1,015,437. It was his fifth win in eight starts on Delaware’s main track.

It appeared as though Win Willy would have to wait for another day to reach the $1 million milestone when he lagged six lengths behind Rush Now, making his first start since October, through the first six furlongs in 1:10.57. Win Willy was still five lengths back and Rush Now maintained his two-length advantage over while Maryland shipper Koh I Noor with an eighth of a mile remaining in the 1 1/16-mile race. But Win Willy finished fastest of all down the center of the track and was clear by 1 3/4 lengths at the wire. The winning time on a fast track was 1:44.64. Rush Now held on to outfight Koh I Noor by a head for second.