If anybody had a doubt as to Tracys Songs chances to win the final of Monticello Raceway’s Name Your Price Claiming Series for mares on Monday, February 25 it certainly wasn’t the betting public.
The punting collective had so much confidence in the eight-year-old Astreos lass that they sent her off at odds of 1-9 in the eight-horse field, which was comprised of the top point earners from the four-week pacing series.
And why shouldn’t they have been so confident? After all, Tracys Song had five consecutive wins prior to the race, and on Monday won for the sixth time in seven seasonal starts --- in a personal season's best 1:58.1.
Trainer Bob Lounsbury again handed the lines to Bruce Aldrich Jr. who gunned the mare to the front from the pole position. The duo took early command, only to yield to Romi Mystic (driven by Jimmy Marohn Jr.) as they approached the first quarter.
But no sooner had Romi Mystic taken the lead, Aldrich was out and going with Tracys Song, and they re-took the engine in a soft :29.3 quarter.
Being such an odds-on favourite, Aldrich was able quell all comers and get away unchallenged in a 1:00 open half mile. However, plenty of challenges came up the backside, but no one could seize the lead from Tracys Song.
When she led the crowded field off the final turn, Tracys Song began to open some daylight and then cruised home with a :28.3 final stanza, en route to an easy three-length winner in a 1:58.1 clocked mile.
Biding Her Time (Jimmy Devaux), who rallied strongly up the backside, held on for second money, while Romi Mystic finished third. Tracys Song paid $2.10 across the board.
After the race, trainer Lounsbury and owner Nancy Fugure joined the track's director of racing, Eric Warner, and others for the winner’s circle presentation.
“Look here, she’s still rearing to go,” Lounsbury said jokingly, as Tracys Song began to rear-up, dance and shuffle around while he was holding her by the head for the photograph. “She’s ready to go another mile,” he laughed.
“You can bet we’ll raise her price tag the next time she races here,” chimed happy owner Fugere. “She’s been too good to us to lose her, now.”
With her sixth seasonal victory, Tracys Song joins seven others as the horses with the most wins in North America thus far this year.
(Monticello)