Missing a week and having to start from Post 8 proved to be no determent to Tracys Song Monday, April 15 at Monticello Raceway.
The eight-year-old Astreos mare cruised to her 12th consecutive victory, this time in 1:57.4. She has now taken sole command as the winningest horse this year in North America.
Bruce Aldrich Jr. was the controls of Tracys Song once again, and he used his wisdom on the racetrack to deter defeat.
“I could see the way they all left out of there that they were trying to get my mare beat, and I can’t say I blame them,” Aldrich said afterward in the winner’s circle. “She’s been a monster this year, and if I was driving against her I’d probably have done the same.”
But Aldrich saw what was developing when five others sped away at the start, so he ducked in the four-hole on the first turn and coasted along with cover for a while. Dolly Little Angel (driven by Pat Beeler) showed the way by the first stanza in :28.4 and kept The Filly Princess (Mike Merton) on the limb.
Heading toward the halfway point, Aldrich moved Tracys Song out behind The Filly Princess, who was yet to see the pylons, as Dolly Little Angel continued to lead the field to a :59 first half.
When they straightened in the backstretch the second time around, Aldrich eased Tracys Song out three-deep and she zoomed to the lead as the three quarters flashed up in 1:29.1.
From there, the only thing in doubt was how much Tracys Song would win by. She passed under the finish line some six lengths ahead of Seeyouonthebeach and driver Zeke Parker in 1:57.4.
“I was easing her up near the finish,” Aldrich added. “I can’t believe that Bob (Bob Lounsbury, the mare's trainer) can keep her this sharp after how hard she has been racing this year. There’s no doubt that her time in the paddock last week did her a world of good.”
Owned by Nancy Fugere and trained by Bob Lounsbury, Tracys Song returned across-the-board payouts of $3.70, $2.70 and $2.50.
With every consecutive victory, Tracys Song adds to her 'Mighty M' track record for mares, but on the horizon is the overall mark of 15 wins in a row, set by Northern Chief and driver Mike Merton back in 2010.
Not to be overlooked was Aldrich’s five winning drives on Monticello's Monday card.
(Monticello)