by John Manzi, publicity director, Monticello Raceway

Monticello, NY — The Zeke Parker countdown is over. On Thursday afternoon (Sept. 12), Parker won a pair of races at Monticello Raceway and in doing so he passed Walter Case, Jr. in career driving victories and became the sixth winningest driver in the sport in North America.

Parker now has driven 11,039 winners in his career, one better than Case’s total.

Geri Schwarz photo

Billy Parker, Jr. received a plaque commemorating his milestone accomplishment from John Manzi.

A 2:01.1 victory with trotter Hardrock Kid in the fifth race brought Parker even with Case at 11,038 and Zeke’s milestone triumph with MD Bee Bee gave him sole possession of sixth place on the North American career leaderboard.

The pacer, owned by John Stubits of nearby Liberty, N.Y., was sent off the prohibitive favorite in the race in which a sudden cloudburst, with thunder and lightning, sent the parading horses back to the paddock until the downpour passed.

Back on the track the pacers headed for the starting gate and when the race was off Parker and MD Bee Bee paced to the front and made every pole a winning one en route to a 1:56.2 triumph.

“I am proud of what I have accomplished so far and hope to continue driving for many years,” said the 59-year-old Maine native. “Being sixth all-time is great, but I feel bad for Casey. Except for a few a starts at Plainridge a few years ago he hasn’t driven a horse in nearly 10 years. Imagine how many races he would have won if he was still driving.”

Although Parker stole the headlines of the day, Jimmy Taggart, Jr. had an outstanding afternoon by reining five winners on the card.

He won with Mike Sorentino and Frank Canzone’s Game Jocko ($6.20) in 1:57.1 in the third and came back in the next race to rein Winbak Farm and Rebecca Williams’ sophomore trotter US Goalie to a 2:03.1 triumph.

Taggart then won the eighth with Brenda Messenger’s Lauxmont Capri ($5.00) in 1:55.3 and then copped the ninth with 3-year-old trotter Let’s Just Dance ($15.80) in 2:03.4, who is also owned by Brenda Messenger.

Taggart finished his afternoon win skein with a 2:00.2 victory with Jack and Rose DeLuca’s Another Mike ($5.30).

With his five victories on Thursday, Taggart has reined 182 winners this year and raised his lifetime total to 3,051.

Also of note was Bruce Aldrich, Jr.’s four-bagger on the card. With those wins Aldrich is now fifth in races won on the 2013 North American leaderboard with 419.