After coasting a few years some may have thought that Billy "Zeke" Parker, Jr. had lost a little of his magic. But that was far from the truth

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The real story there was Zeke was suffering through the illness and then the loss of his beloved wife Terry, who at age 46 passed away earlier this year after suffering with cancer for three years.

Then after all of his suffering Parker got back to doing what he knows best and that is to drive harness horses with the best of them. He retook the top position on the Mighty M leaderboard, a place where he had been for 13 different years here.

On the heels of a five-win afternoon a few days earlier, Parker put on a driving clinic on Thursday by putting together a 6-2-1 record in 11 races.

It all started with Fatguyinalilcoat in race one when Zeke reined John DeSantis' gelding to a 1:58 victory. Then starting in the fifth race he drove five consecutive winners. He scored with Betty Jo Klegg's Kimbersteamkadia in 2:00:4 in the fifth and came back to rein Jennifer Lappe's trotter Lady Merlot to a 2:03 triumph in the sixth race.

In the seventh Parker had a 1:57:3 victory behind Elisha Lafreniere's GEs Scott and then proceeded to win the eighth race with Brenda Messenger and Dr. Scott Woogen's Sandy Hoofprints in a time of 2:00:4 which was the trotting mare's 14th victory of the season here. Parker capped his afternoon with a 1:59:1 triumph with Chuck Campbell's Trendy Ashley.

Now with 302 wins here he's a lock to win his 14th driving title at Monticello Raceway.

(Monticello Raceway)