by John Manzi, publicity director, Monticello Raceway

Monticello, NY — Bill Mulligan’s veteran trotter Donnegal returned to Monticello Raceway on Wednesday afternoon, April 30, and picked up right where he left off, scoring yet another victory against the best trotters on the grounds in the weekly $8,100 Preferred Trot.

The victory was the fourth of the season for the 8-year-old Sierra Kosmos stallion and came after he had previously put in two reasonably good efforts at Yonkers Raceway where he finished third and fifth, respectively. Now back to the track where the old-timer copped two local “Trotter of the Year Awards,” Donnegal showed his superiority.

Again with regular teamster Mike Forte at the controls, Donnegal sped away from post position seven and gained command before the quarter-mile flashed in :29.2. Once on the front end Forte guided his trotter through nearly even fractions the rest of the way as they finished three lengths ahead of Getthemoney and driver Jimmy Marohn in the 1:59.2 mile. Last week’s winner in this class, Pine Ranger, driven by Jordan Stratton, finished third.

But the day belonged to driver Mike Forte who put on a driving clinic by winning four races in a row.

He scored behind Robert Costello’s pacer Fuzzy Charmer in 1:59.2 in the fifth race and then won the sixth with Donnegal. A 2:01 triumph with James Dunn’s Carolina Major followed and Forte capped his afternoon with a 1:57.1 victory with the Brothers Two Stables’ Occult.