by John Manzi, publicity director, Monticello Raceway

Monticello, NY — An old adage states that there are horses for courses and that could certainly apply to a 5-year-old pacing mare by the name of Edies’s Desire.

Unwanted and considered not good enough to compete on the five-eighths-mile oval at Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs, the daughter of Real Desire notched her 13th seasonal triumph over Monticello Raceway’s half-mile oval on September 6 and is now one of the winningest horses in North America. Her seasonal victory total has her just two wins off the top.

Geri Schwarz photo

Edie’s Desire was a 1:59.1 winner on Tuesday at Monticello.

Edie’s Desire’s 1:59.1 clocking over the muddy racing surface at the Mighty M on Tuesday with Bruce Aldrich, Jr. at the lines was her third consecutive and her sixth victory in her last eight starts. Despite racing in low priced claimers here, her seasonal bankroll is nearly $24,000. All last year the mare had but four wins and purses just over $6,000.

What has caused her big turnaround this year? That question was posed to her trainer, Bob Lounsbury.

“When I got her to train at the beginning of the season I made many equipment changes on her. She was loaded with equipment and I slowly began to take most of it off and give the mare a little freedom,” Lounsbury related. “I took off the choke plate, her hood, the two burr headpoles and the tongue tie. Of course not all at once, but eventually, and as we dropped the equipment she began to give better efforts and began winning and making this season a whole lot better than last year.

“Bruce Aldrich, Jr. does my driving and when he first sat behind her this past January he had a tough time steering her and now with all the equipment off her he says she’s 1,000 percent better.”

Edie’s Desire was virtually unwanted by a previous owner, who in fact earlier this year actually offered her online for $3,000 and got no takers. She had been competing in $4,000 claimers and was considered not good enough to race at Pocono Downs, where there are no races for pacers of that caliber.

“Eventually I said to her owner, ‘since you offered Edie’s Desire for $3,000 and go no takers I will give you $3,000 for her,’” explained Lounsbury, who had been training Edie’s Desire all season long. “He said OK since she wouldn’t do at Pocono so I gave him the money and put her in my girlfriend’s name. Since then Edie’s Desire has returned to us nearly twice her purchase price.”

Of the mare’s 13 wins this year her fastest was a 1:57.2 triumph on August 22, racing with a $4,000 claiming tag. In her 1:59.1 triumph on Tuesday, Edie’s Desire was in for $5,000 ($6,000 because of the mares allowance) and after her two length victory over Lady On The Attack and driver Rick Harp, Lounsbury still took the mare back to his barn since no one wanted her for that price.

“Since she doesn’t owe us anything I may put her right back in for $5,000,” Lounsbury added. “But then again, maybe I’ll move her up. After all, she’s already returned twice her purchase price.”