by John Manzi, publicity director, Monticello Raceway

Monticello, NY — If anybody had a doubt as to Tracys Song’s chances to win the final of Monticello Raceway’s Name Your Price Claiming Series for mares on Monday afternoon (Feb. 25), it certainly wasn’t the betting public. They had so much confidence in the 8-year-old Astreos mare that they sent her off at odds of 1-9 in the eight-horse field comprised of the top point earners in the four-week pacing series.

And why shouldn’t they have been so confident?

Tracys Song poured on a :28.3 final panel for Bruce Aldrich, Jr. en route to her sixth seasonal victory.

After all, Tracey’s Song had five consecutive wins prior to the race and now has won for the sixth time in seven seasonal starts, this one is a season’s best 1:58.1.

Trainer Bob Lounsbury again handed the lines to Bruce Aldrich, Jr., who gunned the mare to the front from the pole position and they took early command, only to yield to Romi Mystic and driver Jimmy Marohn, Jr. as they approached the first quarter. But no sooner had Romi Mystic taken the lead before Aldrich was out and going with Tracys Song and they retook in a soft :29.3 quarter.

Being such an odds-on favorite, Aldrich was able quell all comers and get away unchallenged in a 1:00 half. However, plenty of challenges came up the backside but no one could seize the lead from Tracys Song.

When she led the crowded field off the final turn she began to open some daylight and then cruised home in a :28.3 final stanza en route to being an easy three length winner in a 1:58.1 mile. Biding Her Time (Jimmy Devaux), who rallied strongly up the backside, held on for second money while Romi Mystic finished third.

Tracys Song paid $2.10 across the board.

Geri Schwarz photos

Owner Nancy Fugere and driver Bruce Aldrich, Jr. embrace as director of racing Eric Warner looks on.

After the race trainer Bob Lounsbury and owner Nancy Fugere joined director of racing Eric Warner and others for the winner’s circle presentation.

“Look here, she’s still rearing to go,” Lounsbury said jokingly as Tracys Song began to rear-up and dance and shuffle around while he was holding her by the head for the photograph. “She’s ready to go another mile,” he laughed.

“You can bet we’ll raise her price tag the next time she races here,” chimed happy owner Nancy Fugere. “She’s been too good to us to lose her now.”

With her sixth seasonal victory, Tracys Song joins seven others as the horses with the most wins in North America thus far this year.