Monticello, NY — To say that amateur driver “Yankee Joe” Lee is on a roll would be a gross understatement.

Soul Train and Joe Lee coasted to an easy win in Thursdays Billings Trot at Monticello Raceway. Geri Schwarz photo.

After winning the Billings Trot with Soul Train in 2:01.2 on Thursday (Oct. 25) at Monticello Raceway, Lee, the assistant locker room manager for the New York Yankees, now has three consecutive driving victories and has won four of his last five starts.

Sent off as the even-money favorite in the six-horse field, Lee uncharacteristically took his trotter off the gate and settled in fifth as Brandos Muscle Man and Monica “the Norwegian Flash” Banca led the field by the first stanza in :29.4.

“I took a chance taking Soul Train back at the start, because in the past he never wanted to pass horses when we trailed. But today, he was definitely different,” Lee explained. “He really surprised me when I pulled him going to the half, and he easily trotted around Brandos Muscle Man and took command as we headed into the clubhouse turn.”

By the time Lee reached the three-quarters, Soul Train had five lengths on the field. At that point, the only thing in doubt was the margin of victory.

The lead over Brandos Muscle Man was opened to eight lengths as Lee and Soul Train headed for home. Down the stretch, Lee was looking for challengers but none came. They coasted home to win by an easy 8-1/2 lengths in 2:01.2.

In deep stretch, “Lady Jennifer” Lappe rallied Celebrity Blue Chip from fifth to finish second, a length in front of Brandos Muscle Man.

Soul Train is co-owned by Lee, Blindswitch Racing and the Good Friends Stable and trained by Jose Godinez. The 7-year-old altered son of Trainforthefuture scored scored his sixth seasonal victory and returned a $4.00 win mutuel.

For Lee, who was last year’s National Amateur Driver of the Year, it was his 11th driving victory this season and 48th of his career.