For those who follow the ‘leaders of the week’ chart in the U.S., you may have noticed an unfamiliar name in the top five, Jim Devaux.
Devaux was tied last week with U.S. national dash winner Aaron Merriman for the most wins in the nation, as they were both tied with 17 apiece, although Devaux did it with 39 less starts.
Devaux has been on an absolute tear at Monticello Raceway in the last six weeks. He is putting open lengths between himself and the other drivers in the Monticello driving colony in the win department. Thus far in 2017 he has 92 wins, compared to the second place driver Bruce Aldrich Jr., who has 61. This time last year, Aldrich, who was the leading dash winner at the track, had 75 wins. Devaux has won five races on a single card five times and has won four races on an afternoon twice already this year.
“I enjoy doing well at Monticello. This is my hometown track,” said the soft-spoken, affable Devaux. “I grew up in the backstretch. I have enjoyed racing here over the years. I’m not happy when I’m not racing here. I have been very fortunate to get the power to win, and all I need to do is put them in the right spot to win.”
Devaux currently sport a UDR of 460, and besides driving for leading Monticello Raceway trainer Dolores Basilone, he has done very well driving horses for other trainers as well.
Devaux and the other top drivers at Monticello, Bruce Aldrich and Jim Taggart Jr., are a tight-nit bunch and it’s possible that any one of them can win three to four races a day.
“We all get along pretty good and things work out,” noted Devaux, who is also currently in fourth place in the leading dash winner’s category at Saratoga Raceway with nine wins.
(Monticello Raceway)