by John Manzi, publicity director, Monticello Raceway

Monticello, NY — The often raced and often claimed pacing mare Diamond Tiara notched her 20th seasonal victory at Monticello Raceway when she defeated a field of claimers in a time of 2:00.4 over a sloppy racetrack on Monday (Nov. 17).

Geri Schwarz photo

Diamond Tiara won for the 20th time in 2014 on Monday.

With her victory the 7-year-old daughter of McArdle is just two wins shy of the track record of 22 victories set by another claiming pacer, Golden Storm GB, back in 1985.

Once again Jimmy Taggart Jr. handled the driving chores for trainer Mike Watson and as he’s done nearly every time before, gunned Diamond Tiara to the front, this time from the five hole, and they had a 1-1/2 length lead when they passed the first stanza in :30.3.

From there, it was catch me if you can, and nobody could as Diamond Tiara made every pole a winning one en route to an easy five length victory over Artemis Blue Chip and driver Jimmy Devaux.

“She (Diamond Tiara) has raced her heart out all season long and those miles on the front end have taken a toll on the old gal,” Taggart said after the race. “She’s always been game but lately she’s been tailing off at the end of a mile. Today the muddy track probably didn’t sting her as much and she finished like her old self.”

Asked if the track record for most wins in a season is an objective, Taggart answered, “We’ll take it week by week. If she wins again soon then we’ll probably look to at least tie the record. But she’s not the soundest horse in the world.”

Again owned by (Phillip) Mike Schultz after multiple claims to get her back, Diamond Tiara was sent off at odds of 4-5 and paid $3.60 for win.