According to the Chinese Calendar, it’s the Year of the Tiger. But at Monticello Raceway it seems like it’s the year of Bruce Aldrich, Jr.

On the Monday, March 15 card at the 'Mighty M' Aldrich added five more wins to his meet-leading total. He now has 83 victories, and if he keeps winning at the rate he currently is, he could approach the 1995 track record of 526 wins set by Billy 'Zeke' Parker, Jr.

During yesterday's card, Aldrich reached the winner's circle for the first time when he won the second race with Classy Ivory in 2:02:1. He then won the third race with Angies Playmate (2:01).

Beginning in the sixth race, Aldrich strung together three consecutive victories. He won the sixth by six lengths with Mystical Heiress (2:01:2) and then scored a 2:01:2 triumph behind Julie Julie in the seventh.

His final victory of the day was in the eighth with Call Shawnie (2:03).

“It all worked out good for me today,” Aldrich said. “It’s funny, though…the three races I thought I’d win I got beat in, but I won five others that I didn’t think I had a chance in. Go figure!”

(With files from Monticello)