Of all of Tracys Song’s 21 victories this year at Monticello
Raceway the one she scored on Monday, July 15 was the toughest and most
impressive thus far.
After Jimmy Taggart, Jr. and KJ Anita parked Tracys Song
past the quarter in a stifling :27 seconds Tracy’s driver Bruce
Aldrich, Jr. then got away with a 1:00.1 middle half even though Taggart
had KJ Anita extremely tight on his back throughout.
On the final turn, as they have done so many times before,
Aldrich asked ‘Tracy’ for more and again she responded by opening up two
lengths which, however, were quickly diminished as the two pacers turned
for home.
“Jimmy’s mare actually headed- us halfway down the stretch
but Tracy came back and refused to lose,” Aldrich said after Tracys Song scored
her 21st victory by just a head in her seasonal best time of 1:56.2.
“Talk about horses for courses--seems like Tracy was made for Monticello
Raceway.”
With her victory Tracys Song continues to lead North America
in races won, three more than runner-up Haroun Hanover, another
Monticello-based pacer.
After conquering the track record of 15 consecutive wins on
May 20th Tracys Song now is eyeing the track record of 22 wins
in a single season which was established in 1985 by Golden Storm GB.
Tracys Song is trained by Bob Lounsbury for owner Nancy
Fugere. She paid $2.70 and $2.10 and there was no show wagering.
At the end of the racing program that afternoon when
announcer Howard Oil was giving the wrap-up he said: “It was the Billy Parker (
Jr.)- Jimmy Taggart (, Jr.) show today,” referring to both drivers who each won
four races on the afternoon card.
The four driving victories by the aforementioned reinsmen
are helping to near milestones for both. With his victories Parker now
needs just two more to crack the 11,000-career win plateau and Taggart’s four
wins now leaves him just 10 short of 3000 career winners.
Parker had two triumphs for trainer Ron
Coauette--New Manhattan ($16.60) in 1:57 and Get Ready To Rhumba $3.70) in
1:57.1. He also won with Driving In Style ($6.20) in 1:56.4 for trainer Scott
Blackler and was victorious with the Gary Messenger-trained
trotter, Sin To Win ($5.10) in 2:00.
Taggart on the other hand won three races for trainer Gary
Messenger. He scored behind trotter Benn’s Starlet ($4.50) in 1:59.4 and
pacers Mary Lou ($ 9.80) in 1:58.1 and Winsmith Molly ($2.90) in 1:57.3.
Taggart’s fourth winner on the program was with trotter Strongbow ($7.60) in
2:00.2 for trainer Terry Beck.
