It is almost unbelievable
that this year another Monticello Raceway -based pacer is again leading the
country in races won. Last year Tracys Song went on a winning tear and now
Diamond Tiara is duplicating her efforts this season and the 7 –year- old
daughter of McArdle is wearing her crown confidently.
At the Mighty M on the warm
and sunny afternoon of April 21, Diamond Tiara won for the 11th time
this season and she continues to lead North America in races won this year. And
her 1:57.4 triumph was her seventh consecutive.
Despite having to start from
the eight hole, driver Jimmy Taggart, Jr. hustled Diamond Tiara away from
the mobile gate and even passed-up the two-hole opting to be on the front-end.
Austin Siegelman had grabbed
command with Thunder Seelster as the field charged into the first turn but when
Taggart passed up the two-hole Siegelman thought he’d better let Diamond Tiara
take the lead rather than hooking up in a speed duel.
“My mare has quick speed and
I really wanted to be on the front-end,” Taggart said in the winner’s circle
after the race. “She loves to be on the lead and she relaxes once she gets
there.”
Diamond Tiara had command as
she came off the first turn and although Taggart eased her off they still
passed the quarter in :28.4. Confident on the lead Diamond Tiara coasted
through fractions of :59.3 and 1:29 before she had any real challenges.
On the final turn Taggart let
the mare have her head and she opened daylight on the field and rambled home an
easy three length-winner on the strength of a :28.4 final quarter to post
a seasons best of 1:57.4.
Sent off at odds of 13-10
Diamond Tiara paid $4.40 for win and strangely her place price was
$10.00. She’s owned by Philip Schultz and trained by Mike Watson and for
Taggart it was his second driving victory on the eight-race program.
After the completion of the
racing program and Taggart was changing into his street clothes in the
paddock locker room he took a moment or two to muse about Diamond Tiara’s
current feat.
“She (Diamond Tiara) was
really at the top of her game today,” Taggart offered. “Last week she was a
little sluggish at the end of the mile but today she finished strong. She’s
such a pleasure to drive.”
