One dynasty ends and another continues. Dolores Basilone secured her second consecutive training title at Monticello Raceway, and along the way she set a new mark with the most wins for a Monticello trainer with 222 trips to the winner’s circle. The new mark surpassed the former record of 218 wins held by Joe Minieri.
Basilone’s total tally of 226 vaulted her into sixth nationally, with her barn earning $754,072 of the $789,192 seasonal total from her 948 starts at Monticello Raceway. Gary Messenger was second with 116 wins, followed by Robert Lounsbury (113), Dan Gill (85) and rounding out the top five was newcomer Jennifer Lappe.
Jim Devaux also had a career best year as he took home his first ever leading dash winner title with 301 wins in 1,204 starts and ended the year with Monticello earnings of $986,516. Devaux also notched a milestone when he drove his 5,000 winner earlier this fall. Devaux also finished third for the most wins at Saratoga.
Devaux's numbers also warranted national attention, as he finished sixth in the nation with 544 wins to bolster his earnings of $3,005,547.
James Taggart Jr. was second in the drivers standinga with 256 wins and former Monticello Raceway leading dash winner Bruce Aldrich Jr. was third with 244. Michael Merton was next with 200 followed by a tie for fifth at 144 between Kyle Dibenedetto and the morning line favourite to be a future Mighty M dash winner, Austin Siegelman.
(with files from Monticello)