EDIES’S DESIRE WINS FOR THE 18TH TIME;NOW ONE WIN BEHIND THE NATION’S LEADER

December 13, 2012, by John Manzi, Publicity Director, Monticello Raceway


Edie’s Desire has done it again. On the Monday card of December 12 the  5-year-old Real Desire mare  scored her 18^th seasonal victory  which now leaves her just one win short of equaling North American’s leader, Mack Hill.

Edie’s Desires holds on  for her 18^th seasonal triumph
 which is one win  behind the nation’s leader (Geri Schwarz Photo)

Bruce Aldrich, Jr. was in the sulky and guided Edie’s Desire to a gate to wire triumph in a time of 1:58.4. Oddly, Aldrich  is also the regular driver of Blue Creek Angie, who in spite of getting beat on Monday---she finished second--  also has 18 seasonal triumphs.

Some may remember that a while back Edie’s Desire’s former owner didn’t want the mare because she couldn’t do at Pocono Downs, where he races. So he offered the mare for $3000 on the internet but received no takers. 

However, when Bob Lounsbury, her trainer, said to the owner ,“since you offered her for $3000 on-line would you sell her to me at that price”

A deal was struck and Edie’s Desire stayed in the Lounsbury barn and became the property of Lounsbury’s girlfriend, Margaret Olmstead.

“Since we purchased her in late July Edie’s Desire has won ten races and has earned well over $22,000  for us,” a pleased Lounsbury said  after the mare won yet another race on Monday.

In all  Edie’s Desire  has  bankrolled $35,634 this year on the strength of her 18 wins; five seconds and eight thirds in 42 starts.

“I’m sure a good  part of Edie’s Desire’s  success this year  is  that she gets loving care from her groom, Nancy Fugere,” Lounsbury added. “ Nancy really dotes special care on the mare and it shows.  You can’t underestimate  the importance of a good caretaker.”

A thrilled Nancy Fugere  accepts the Caretaker of the Year Award

 from  Howard  Oil at the USHWA Banquet on October 30^th

(Geri Schwarz Photo)

Lounsbury wasn’t alone in citing the competence of caretaker Nancy Fugure. The local scribes  honored her with their “ Caretaker of the Year Award” at their  annual harness writers banquet in late October.

Lounsbury’s barn has had a prolific season again this year. His 50 training wins ranks him among the top ten on the local trainer’s leaderboard his .490 UDRS (percentage) is at the top of the heap.

And Aldrich, who won three races on Monday now has a comfortable lead in his battle with Zeke Parker for most driving victories at the Mighty M this year despite the fact that Parker, himself, won four races on the card.

Furthermore, unless Parker can come up with some kind of a miracle over the remaining 11 race cards  here,  it’s probably time to put a circle around Aldrich’s name  as Monticello Raceway’s leading driver during the 2011 campaign