Since 2011 Jimmy Taggart has won plenty of races here at
Monticello Raceway but it’s been nearly three years since he has driven five
winners on one card. However, on the 11-race Tuesday (Nov. 4) card the
talented reinsman added another milestone to his resume when he drove five
winners.
Taggart, who passed the 3000 career win plateau last season,
began his afternoon with a 1:56.3 victory with Luanne Case’s pacer, Shark
Income ($16.40) and followed that with a 1:59 triumph with Jimmy Doherty Jr.
and Jodie Doherty’s trotter, Tobell ($4.10).
Taggart’s next victory was behind Flirting With Disaster
Stable’s, Myra’s Hiho ($3.10) in a time of 1:58.1 and then Jimmy
proceeded to win the final two races on the card.
He won the afternoon’s pacing feature with Phillip Schultz’s
pacer Ideal Bid ($3.20) in a time of 1:54 and then copped the 11th
and final race with Gerald Decker’s Kennanskingwilliam ($3.00) in a time of
1:56.1.
Taggart, with his even temperament, just takes his winning
in stride and he’s not very vocal about it, and for that matter, or anything
else he does. He did however say that he had some horses in the right
place and that they raced real good for him.
The 44 year old catch-driver who gets first call from top
trainer Gary Messenger, has already driven 201 winners this season and this
season marks the fourth consecutive year that Taggart has won 200 or more
races. His mounts thus far this season have earned nearly $750,000.
Currently Taggart is fourth in wins on the local
leaderboard.
A product of the amateur ranks here at the Mighty M in the
late 1980’s when he turned professional during the 1988
season Taggart now has 3303 driving victories to his credit.
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