After leading the Monticello Raceway driving colony for most of the year, eight weeks ago Bruce Aldrich, Jr. was overtaken in driving victories by Billy “Zeke” Parker, Jr., who went on a virtual tear and vaulted some 30 wins ahead of Aldrich. But now it’s Aldrich who’s got the hot hand for the past few weeks

and his six wins yesterday, Monday, August 1, has helped him close the gap behind Zeke, who now trails Parker by just five wins, 218 to 213.

Aldrich, who has won more races at the Mighty M than any other driver since 2000, began his assault on Monday in the second race when he guided Tom Speron’s pacer, Space Chalet to a 2:00.1 triumph.

After finishing a close third in the third race, Aldrich then reeled off three consecutive victories. He won the fourth with Michelle Hallett and James Donahue’s pacer East Coast Girl in a time of 1:58.3 and then scored a 1:57.2 victory with his own Blue Creek Angie, which was the mare's ninth seasonal triumph. Aldrich captured the sixth behind Stratton Racing Stables' Parlez Best in an eye-opening seven-length romp in a time of 1:55, which was that mare’s fifth consecutive victory.

After Zeke Parker won each of the next two races, Aldrich found himself on the short end of a tight two-horse win photo in the ninth race when Kewlgurl finished second to the Mike Forte–driven Allikait Fighter in a 1:57.4 clocking. But then Aldrich won two of the last four races on the 13-race card. He won the 10th with Manuel Gonzalez’s Credible Blu in 1:57.4 and then copped the 12th with Howard Rebackoff’s Bad Obsession in a time of 1:58.1.

“I had a great day today and with a little zigging and zagging I could have won eight races,” a smiling Aldrich said after the Monday race card was over. “I was real close in a couple of others and I’m gaining on Zeke...but he’s tough...always has been and still is.”

(Monticello Raceway)