by John Manzi, publicity director, Monticello Raceway
Monticello, NY — Cornishman N and driver Bruce Aldrich, Jr. streaked to an 11 length victory in a 1:57 clocking in the weekly trotting feature on Wednesday (Oct. 26) at Monticello Raceway, establishing a new track record for older trotters.
The trotter’s victory, which was the New Zealand-bred’s 10th of the season, prompted announcer Howard Oil to exclaim, “How many times do you see a 12-year-old set a track record?”
The 1:57 clocking erased the former standard of 1:57.3 set last July by another old-timer, Benn’s Sure Thing, a mere 9-year-old.
Geri Schwarz photo
Cornishman N scored in a track record 1:57 on Wednesday at Monticello.
Cornishman N is owned by Jonathan Klee Racing, Inc. and Mo Coo, Inc. He paid just $2.80 for win. After just two weeks in the Bob Lounsbury barn, Cornishman N, an Armbro Invasion gelding, is now two-for-two.
“They (the owners) sent him (Cornishman N) to me so he could race against easier competition with hopes that we could ‘brave-him up’ and get him to finish strong because in his last two starts at Yonkers he faded badly in the stretch,” Lounsbury related after the trotter’s track record performance. “We won last week by a length in 2:00.3 and today’s 11 length win should accomplish the owners’ mission here at Monticello.”
The triumph with Cornishman N was one of four wins on the Wednesday card for Aldrich. He also won with Antonio and Maria Grillo’s Terrific Seven (2:01.3), Michael D’Abbraccio’s Life’s Bandit (1:58.3) and Dave Yarock’s Upheld (1:59.1).
Over the past week Aldrich has taken command of the local leaderboard and has jumped ahead of Zeke Parker in races won this season. Although Parker won a pair on the Wednesday card, the 17-time Mighty M driving champion finds himself currently trailing Aldrich in wins by a count of 324-315.