The monkey is off Brent Grundy's back. The personable pilot hit the 2,500 lifetime driving win mark on Wednesday evening - and then eclipsed it

.

Parked the entire first quarter of the second race at Northlands Park, Grundy finally put Best Out West on the lead in front of the grandstand in an $8,000 claiming tilt. And from there he had clear sailing to the winner's circle, where fans and friends met him with balloons, a large sign and applause.

"Finally got that out the way," said Grundy after the win photo.

The personable driver had been 0-for-17 in his quest to reach 2,500 wins before Wednesday’s card.

"(Best Out West) felt good all the way," said Grundy on the Ken Read-trained four-year-old gelding. "I got my 1,000th win with (a horse) of Ken Read's."

That win came in Calgary during Grundy's first tour of driving duty in the sport. Starting at age 16, he drove for about 25 years before moving to the judging stand for HRA. But after an eight-year break, he left the top floor of the grandstand and returned to the backstretch. Turning 52 in April, Grundy hit the 2,501 victory mark in the fourth race with My Villa.

(Horse Racing Alberta)