by John Manzi, publicity director, Monticello Raceway

Monticello, NY — Bill Mulligan’s pride and joy, Donnegal, scored his second consecutive victory in the Preferred Trot at Monticello Raceway on the very windy Wednesday afternoon of January 30.

Racehorsephoto.com photo

The field charged at Donnegal in the homestretch, but the veteran trotter hung on gamely for second consecutive victory in the Preferred Trot.

Trainer Greg Wasiluk once again handed the reins to Mike Forte and Donnegal scored a gate-to-wire victory in a time of 2:01 over a fast-closing Bacon Hill Scott, who was driven by Jordan Stratton. Though little more than a head behind Donnegal, Getthemoney, in rein to Jimmy Marohn, had to settle for the show dough.

Sent off the favorite from post position three, Forte hustled the 8-year-old Sierra Kosmos stallion to the lead, but they didn’t take command until Stephane Bouchard, aboard Flying Standby, yielded the front-end as the two trotters passed the quarter-mile marker in :29.3.

From there Donnegal opened up a three length lead, which he held until the top of the stretch. But as the veteran trotter approached the finish line, his strides began to shorten and the field which he had so easily dominated for most of the mile charged at him. At the wire, only heads separated the first three finishers and all three were timed identically in 2:01.

Donnegal, who for the last two seasons was named older trotter of the year at the Mighty M, is again off to a good start this season with two wins and two seconds in four starts. The victory on was Donnegal’s 28th of his career and it pushed his lifetime bankroll to over $291,000.

He paid $4.40 for win.

Also that day, Bruce Aldrich, Jr. had a ‘hat trick’ and now leads Jordan “The Kid” Stratton — who also reined a winner — in races won, 29-20.

Aldrich won with Sudden Speed (2:03.2) in the second race and then won the seventh with Wise Guy (2:01.4). He finished the day with a victory behind Half Life in the ninth and final race on the card.