Quietly, and without much fanfare, Sand E Fiftyfive has been winning races at Monticello Raceway. On Friday, February 3 the eight-year-old I Am A Fool mare notched her eighth consecutive victory for owner Barry Charles of New Rochelle, New York

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Billy Mann was in the pilot’s seat this week behind Sand E Fiftyfive. The reinsman took advantage of the pole position by sending the mare to the front before passing the quarter pole in :28.3.

From there, Mann kept the pedal to the metal (the pair passed the half-way point in :59.1 and the third stanza in 1:28.3). Sand E Fiftyfive held off a late charge by Jim Jam Gigolett in the lane and went on to score the one-length victory in 1:58.

Afterward, trainer Billy Kapinos seemed to take the mare's eighth straight win in stride. When asked what’s next, he gingerly replied, “Now we’ll try for No. 9.”

Sent off as the odds-on favorite, Sand E Fiftyfive returned $2.70 on a successful Win wager.

(With files from Monticello)