by John Manzi, publicity director, Monticello Raceway

Monticello, NY — Tracys Song was back home again at Monticello Raceway on Monday (June 24) and the venerable pacing mare won for the 19th time this year to continue leading all other Standardbreds in races won this season in North America.

Although it was drizzling at the start of the race, when the field passed by the first quarter the rains began to fall more earnestly and the attending fans ducked for cover although the competing horses and drivers seemed oblivious to the falling rain.

Geri Schwarz photo

Tracys Song posted her 19th win of the year on Monday.

With regular driver Bruce Aldrich, Jr. again at the controls, Tracys Song grabbed an early lead on the first turn but instead of racing her on top as he has done with her in the overwhelming majority of her victories, Aldrich yielded command to Jimmy Marohn, Jr. and Community Spirit as the two pacers straightened in the backstretch and headed for the first stanza which was clocked in :28.

Aldrich kept Tracys Song on Marohn’s helmet and they followed Community Spirit past the half in :59.3 and by the three-quarters in 1:28.2.

On the final turn Aldrich moved his mare out to challenge the leader and when the two pacers came off the turn Tracys Song began to wear down Community Spirit and she coasted home an easy two length winner in a time of 1:58.

“She never ceases to amaze me,” Aldrich said in the winner’s circle, referring to Tracys Song’s victory. “She was a little sore today but she still got the job done. She’s got a big heart and she just loves this race track.”

For the first time in months, trainer Bob Lounsbury and owner Nancy Fugere were absent from the winner’s circle photograph.

“The rains were coming down too heavily to travel there (from the paddock),” Lounsbury said. “Besides, we’ve got plenty of winner’s circle pictures with Tracy.”

Sent off at odds of 1-2, Tracys Song paid $3.00 for win. There was no show wagering in the race.

On June 15, after 18 wins in a row at Monticello, Tracys Song’s connections tried her at Tioga Downs, the five-eighths-mile racetrack in New York’s Southern tier, but the mare didn’t find the racing surface to her liking and she finished last, interrupting her consecutive win skein.

Still, during her prowess at the Mighty M, Tracys Song’s 18 consecutive victories established a new track record and with her triumph on Monday afternoon, the 8-year-old mare now is just three victories from the Monticello track record of 22 wins during a single season, which was set in 1985 by a pacer named Golden Storm GB.