With Jimmy Marohn, Jr. sidelined by a racing accident at
Tioga Downs last weekend, Monticello Raceway based trainer trainer Danny Gill,
who uses Marohn almost exclusively, had to scramble to fill the gap behind his
pupils this week.
However, on Thursday (Sept. 4), when Gill had six horses in
to go, he split the driving chores between three talented chauffeurs; Bruce
Aldrich, Jr. Larry Stalbaum, and Johnny Desimone. And Gill finished with a good
day with two wins and two seconds from the six starters.
Most productive was Desimone who won two races for Gill,
both trotting events. First, and foremost, Johnny D scored a 1:57.1 victory
with Rose Run Nash ($5.30) which was the 6 year old Trainforthefuture gelding’s
17th victory and is tops by a trotter on the continent this
year.
Now, Rose Run Nash is just one victory away from tying
pacers Diamond Tiara and Shortest Distance, who co-lead North America with 18
wins. And strangely, all three horses are Mighty M regulars.
Desimone also reined Gill’s other trotter, Sir Siro ($9.50),
to a gate to wire to victory in a time of 2:00.
“Desimone is good with trotters that’s why I used him today,
“Gill offered. “He used to work with (Gary) Messenger who always has a lot of
good trotters.”
Gill is also in a fight for leading trainer honors with
Messenger and Bob Lounsbury.
“We each won two races yesterday,” Gill added. “But
Messenger is still the leader.”
Messenger’s 102 winners is currently tops while
Lounsbury and Gill are in hot pursuit; Lounsbury with 95 wins and Gill with 94.
On the driving side Bruce Aldrich Jr. continues to lead the
local colony. On Thursday he added three more victories to his seasonal
totals and currently leads runner-up Jimmy Devaux by 34 wins; 224 to 190.
However, Aldrich is again among the leaders in North America
in races won. Driving basically at two tracks, Monticello and Saratoga, many
days simultaneously, his 393 winners ranks him sixth at this time. Last year
Aldrich’s 645 victories tied him for second place nationally with Dave Palone.
Ronnie Wren Jr. copped the title last year with 714 wins.
