It wasn’t a battle of the titans at Monticello Raceway on
Monday afternoon (Sept 8), it was, however, a confrontation between
Diamond Tiara and Shortest Distance, the two harness horses with the most
victories, (18) in North America this season.
Actually the two had confronted one another back on August
25th and both finished off the board. But on Monday, Shortest
Distance prevailed and her 19th seasonal triumph makes her the
clear leader in races won by a Standardbred tin 2014.
Bruce Aldrich Jr. was again at the controls behind the 6
year old Park Place mare as they easily scored a five length victory in 1:55.1
after starting from post position three. Future Rock Star and Zeke Parker
finished second while Givemybest Hanover was third for Larry Stalbaum.
After the race an excited Aldrich chirped “I did it my way”
which he referred to racing Shortest Distance out of a hole.
“We had the three- hole and they wanted me to go to the
front around Diamond Tiara (post 2) and Jimmy’s (Devaux) mare (Latin Lyric on
the pole position) but they were head-to -head and wide open on the first turn
so I ducked in along the pylons behind them. But as I was doing that I was
thinking, if this doesn’t work it would be all my fault (for not winning the
race) since Al (Annunziata-the mare’s trainer) wanted me to race her on the
front-end.”
Devaux finally allowed Jimmy Taggart, Jr. and Diamond Tiara
to take command as they passed the first quarter in 28.2. From there Diamond
Tiara had command all the way until the three quarters where Shortest Distance
zoomed by her and went on to an easy victory.
In the lane Diamond Tiara had broken equipment and barely
finished when Taggart got off the bike and had assistance taking the sulky off
the mare who moseyed home and finished sixth.
In the winners circle trainer Al Annunziata acknowledged he
wanted Aldrich to race his mare on the front-end but he was smiling and happy
with the results just the same.
Shortest Distance, owned by Marissa Godinez, returned a
$5.10 win payoff. And for Bruce Aldrich, Jr., it was one of four winners on the
card for him and his seasonal total of 399 driving victories currently places
him sixth in races won in North America.
There must be something in the Catskill Mountain air that
again this year Monticello Raceway, in the county Seat of the former Borsht
Belt, has the horse with the most victories this season like it did with
Tracy’s Song until the final night of the 2013 campaign. But this year there
are three at the top of the lists. The other, a trotter, Rose Run Nash from the
Danny Gill barn, has 17 wins is tops in the trotting division.
