by John Manzi, publicity director, Monticello Raceway

Monticello, NY — Stephane Bouchard knows that driving day and night adds to a seasonal win total. But, of course, it’s not just the driving alone that does the trick — it’s the talent in the sulky that pours on the numbers.

And for sure, Bouchard has the talent.

Racehorsephoto.com photo

Stephane Bouchard began his day with a 2:03 victory with Dounowhomydadis at the Mighty M.

On Monday, February 12, he won three races at Monticello Raceway (his daytime home) and scored another at Yonkers Raceway (his night time track) and he now has 106 for the season, which currently ranks him second in North America behind Tim Tetrick’s 121.

Bouchard is no stranger to the North American leaderboard. Last year his 618 driving victories ranked him fifth in North America and his 656 wins during the 2003 campaign was tops on the continent.

Since he began driving in 1989 Bouchard has amassed 5,569 wins, which places him in an elite group of harness drivers who have more than 5,000 wins.

Bouchard began Monday afternoon at Monticello Raceway with a 2:03 victory with George Dilacio’s Dounowhomydadis ($4.30) in the fourth race and then he reined Martin Scharf’s Just Believe ($3.60) to a 2:00.2 victory in the seventh. He finished the first half of his day with a 2:01.1 triumph behind VIP Stable.com and Fred Sporrer’s I’m Beth ($4.10) in the 11th.

Upon the completion of the afternoon card at the Mighty M, Bouchard was off to the Hilltop oval in Yonkers, N.Y. for more action. And though it wasn’t one of his better days — he’s won seven on several occasions — he did rein Denise Guarino’s Lady Traveler to a 2:03 trotting victory in the second race at Yonkers Raceway and lit up the tote board when the mare paid $78.00 to win.