by John Manzi, publicity director, Monticello Raceway

Miss Gibbons is back and more lethal than ever. The former New York Sires Stakes champion not only won Monticello Raceway’s $6800 open trot on April 20 but she did it in track record time

With owner-trainer, 78-year old Dr. Howard E. (Doc) Gill at the controls, the five year old daughter of Giant Hit cruised to a 1:59:1 triumph against the best trotters on the grounds which turned out to be the fastest mile ever trotted by an aged mare in the 47 year history of the Mighty M.

Her performance was 3/5^ths of a second faster than the former mark of 1:59:4 co-owned by Miss Taco (1981); Jenna Marvel (1996) and HF’s Gal (2001).

In only her second seasonal start—her first was on January 5—Miss Gibbons returned to the form that won her “Horse of the Year” honors at Monticello Raceway two years ago.

Actually she looked better than ever.

“She’s never been as sound as she is right now,” Doc Gill said of his pride and joy who definitely makes the septuagenarian feel decades younger.

As the wings of the mobile starting gate folded Miss Gibbons gained command from post position one and she never relinquished it.

Doc Gill got his trotting machine by the quarter pole in 29:4 seconds and when the timer flashed 1:01 at the half mile stanza, Miss Gibbons appeared to be infallible from there.

And she was.

When Jimmy Devaux moved Dagger Hanover, a 2:00:1 winner last week, up to challenge for the lead Miss Gibbons kept him at bay as they trotted a 29-second third quarter. The fractions took a toll on Dagger Hanover and he faded as the two trotted around the final turn. But Miss Gibbons seemed fresh as a daisy and Doc Gill didn’t even lift a line as the mare trotted away from all challengers and coasted home a three length winner.

“I had intended to race her from a hole (behind cover) but I was talking with Billy Parker (he wasn’t in the race) and he told me ‘Doc.. why don’t you take her to the front.. nobody will pull on you’ and that’s just what happened,” Doc Gill related said after his victory. “When we got away with a 1:01 half I knew she’d be hard to beat from there.”

Tagapine, with Stephane Bouchard aboard, finished second and Dagger Hanover held on for third money.

Sent off at odds of nearly 4-1 Miss Gibbons trotted the final four furlongs in 58:1 seconds and rewarded her backers with a $9.90 win mutuel.