Monticello, NY — Leading Monticello Raceway dash driver Bruce Aldrich Jr. padded his lead with five wins on the afternoon card Thursday (March 5). Mike Merton also drove three winners on the card.

Aldrich won three consecutive races in the beginning of the card. The first win came with Western Bay Bay (1:58.4-$3.60) in race two for trainer Robert Lounsbury. It was the third seasonal win for the 4-year-old Art Official gelding in nine starts.

Lucky Leonard was one of Bruce Aldrich Jr.’s five winners. Geri Schwarz photo.

Aldrich then scored with Lucky Leonard in 2:00. The driver was content to sit in the pocket while Giddyallyougot (Mike Merton) cut the mile, before Lucky Leonard posted his best winning time in two years for trainer Laura Perino and returned a healthy $40.80 win pari-mutuel.

Someboysomewhere would account for win No. 3. Trained by the third leading conditioner on the grounds, Jim Doherty Jr., the son of Somebeachsomewhere scored a five length romp in 2:00 for his first win of the 2020 season.

The next win came with the favored Regil Tiger. Aldrich worked hard for this win as the co-favorite Drive’em Cowboy (Jim Taggart Jr.) started to skip away from the field down the backside the second time. Aldrich did some serious urging to get the win with the 14-year-old gelding in 1:58.1.

John Dally would account for Aldrich’s fifth win of the afternoon for trainer David Dziengiel with a 1:59.3 score.

It marked the fifth time this season that Aldrich won four or more races on the same day.

Mike Merton, who recently returned back in the bike after a prolonged absence due to a racing accident, brushed off the dust and won three races with Hot Seat (1:59.2-$2.80), Catcha Lefty A (1:57.3-$2.70) and Upfront Countryboy (1:58-$3.20).

A total of $724,787 was wagered on the 10-race card, for an average handle per race of $72,478.

Live racing resumes Monday with a 12:50 p.m. post time.