by John Manzi, publicity director, Monticello Raceway

Monticello, NY — Quietly Jimmy Devaux does his job, and he’s good at what he does.

On Wednesday afternoon (April 16) Devaux reined four winners on Monticello Raceway’s eight race card. The previous day he had three wins.

Devaux began the Wednesday afternoon card by scoring a 2:00.4 victory with Melissa Russo’s veteran trotter Tobell and although Tobell paid $38.00 for win it wasn’t the biggest payoff of Devaux’s four winners.

Geri Schwarz photo

Jimmy Devaux rallied Waterfront Success to victory and paid $92 to win.

In the seventh race, after getting a two-hole journey with 45-1 shot Waterfront Success, when the field rounded the final turn the pace-setter Aurevoir Balboa went off stride and allowed Devaux’s pacer room, which enabled them to wind their way through the leaders and be the first to the finish line.

Owned by Ruth Ingham and trained by Vernon James, Waterfront Success returned a whopping $92.00 win payoff.

“When Mike’s (Merton with Aurevoir Baboa) horse tipped-off on the last turn I thought I had a shot at winning and my horse was strong because we never got any air,” Devaux explained. “The hardest part, though, was finding race room in the deep stretch but when I fed my horse daylight he scooted by the leaders and we won by a length I’d guess.”

Devaux’s other two winners were race favorites. In the second race he won by five lengths in 2:01.3 with the rapidly improving sophomore pacer Chantepleur ($3.10), an American Ideal colt owned by Michael Funke. His other victory came in race five behind Kevin Hough’s veteran trotter George’s Vacation ($3.20) in 2:00.4.

Devaux, like his brother-in-law Bruce Aldrich, Jr. (they’re married to sisters) also does double duty, racing at both Monticello Raceway in the afternoon and at Saratoga Raceway in the evening. And Wednesday night at the Spa City oval Devaux won two races, making it a six-win day for the talented reinsman.

Thus far this year Devaux has driven 110 winners which currently ranks him tied for 13th place on the North American leaderboard. Last year the former two-time Mighty M driving champ scored a personal best when he drove 412 winners.