by John Manzi, publicity director, Monticello Raceway

Monticello, NY — Two days ago Mystical Tenor scored his fourth consecutive victory. Not to be outdone by a pacer, on Wednesday, March 12, the veteran trotter Mighty Mark also made it four-in-a-row at the Mighty M.

With Stephane Bouchard again at the lines the 9-year-old Giant Hit gelding won the track’s trotting feature in a time of 2:03.4.

After Pride Of Bullville and driver Billy Parker, Jr. took command on the first turn Bouchard was content to shadow the leader throughout the mile, so much so that Bouchard never moved from the two hole despite soft fractions and opted to wait until the passing lane opened at the top of the stretch before he fed his trotter daylight.

Once racing room existed Mighty Mark charged down the lane along the pylons and trotted by Pride Of Bullville for an easy one length triumph. Third place went to Witch And Famous, who was handled by the meet’s leading driver, Bruce Aldrich, Jr.

For the past two years Mighty Mark, owned by his trainer David Dziengiel and Joe Ricco, Jr., has won claiming trotter awards from the local scribes at the annual harness writers banquets here at season’s end.

A winner of seven races and over $48,800 last year, Mighty Mark, who was in for a tag of $20,000 on March 12, already has four wins and purses in excess of $8,700 in 2008.

Sent off at odds of 2-1, Mighty Mark paid an even $6.00 for win.

Also on the card, former 13-time Monticello Raceway driving champ Billy “Zeke” Parker, Jr. added three more victories to his resume and now has a career total of 9,330, which ranks him ninth all-time in harness racing.

Parker’s first winner came in the third race behind Barbara Merton’s Coconut Willie ($10.20) in a time of 2:01.3. He then reined John Stubits’ Flyin Aftermidnite ($4.70) to a 2:01.4 triumph in the fifth and capped the afternoon with a 2:02.1 ($25.20) with Chief Bearclaw, a pacer he co-owns with Evan Katz, in the seventh race.