Shades of Seabiscuit; Former $4,000 Claimer wins Open Pace
April 12, 2005,by John Manzi, publicity director, Monticello Raceway
For the Chinese this may be the year of the Rooster, but at Monticello Raceway it’s definitely the year of Jimmy Devaux.
The 39 year old reinsmen has graduated to the top of the class and not only leads all other drivers in the dash-win department but along the way this year he has made a few good claims for his patrons.
One case in point: Bayonne Baby.
Monticello Raceway photo
Jimmy Devaux
On February 2nd Devaux owners, Jack and Rose Deluca plunked down $4000 to claim an eight year old On The Road Again gelding named Bayonne Baby and since that date the pacer has been just short of spectacular. He won five races in his first seven starts for his new owners and today (April 12) he moved to the head of the class after he copped Monticello Raceway’s weekly open pace in a 1:57 clocking for driver Jimmy Devaux ..
“I guess you could say we made a good claim,” the mild-mannered horseman calmly said after Bayonne Baby paced by the 1:50:1 record pacer, West Gun, in the deep stretch to earn a new seasonal record.
“Not only does he (Bayonne Baby) have a big engine but he’s a pleasure to drive and (he) is probably the best horse I’ve had so far ( in my career).”
The week after he was claimed, Bayonne Baby rewarded the Deluca’s with a 1:59:1 triumph against $4,000 claimers. The next week he turned back a field of $7000 claimers in a time of 1:57:2 Then on, February 22nd , against $10,000 claiming pacers, Bayonne Baby romped by 8 lengths in 1:57:4 and the following week he beat $12,500 claimers in 2:02:4 over a muddy racetrack.
After he finished second against $15,000 company at Saratoga Raceway on March 19 Bayonne Baby was back home at Monticello on March 29th but finished sixth against a field of winners/over $4000 life in the pacers first attempt outside of the claiming ranks.
Though Bayonne Baby was a gate to wire winner in a time of 1:58:2 against the same winners/over competition a week later on April 5th the betting public didn’t really like his chances against the open company April 12th and sent him off at odds of 11-1.
“I thought we were in deep today (April 12) but I knew the others would be in for a tussle,” Devaux said about Bayonne Baby’s chances in his first attempt against the best pacers on the grounds.
“This was his first win from off the pace and though I felt he’d go a good race, quite frankly he surprised me. After all, just two months ago he was getting beat in $4000 claimers.”