Pino wins 5,000th on birthday

Mario Pino does most of his riding in Maryland these days. But he returned to his Delaware roots to celebrate his 41st birthday and a career milestone on Sunday.

Pino is a native of Wilmington, just a few miles from Delaware Park, where he was the leading rider in 1979 and 1980. He became the 18th jockey to ride 5,000 winners by scoring twice on Delaware's Sunday program.

Pino got his 5,000th when he guided Outdone, a 3-year-old filly trained by Wendy Kinnamon, to a 2 1/4-length victory in the ninth race. Earlier, he rode 2-year-old Depository to a win for trainer Anthony Dutrow.

"Forty-one years ago today I was in St. Francis Hospital in Wilmington, Delaware," said Pino, "and now I'm at Delaware Park in Stanton, Delaware, with this milestone. It's just incredible."