On Tuesday, September 20 at Monticello Raceway, over a track listed as 'good,' Trigger Finger and driver Bruce Aldrich, Jr. rambled to a stunning 1:53.4 track record victory in the 21st edition of the Little Grey Jug
.
The final time established a new track record for three-year-old pacing geldings and erased the former standard of 1:54 set by Getting Personal and John Stark, Jr. on August 29, 1993.
After Pat Berry gunned Jaguar Jet, last year’s Little Grey Jug winner, to the lead in the opening quarter (:28), Mike Kimelman was out and driving with favoured Lillywhites. They ranged alongside Jaguar Jet and the two raced as a team by the half in :56; at which point Aldrich moved Trigger Finger to the outside and they began to move upon the leaders from far back.
With Jaguar Jet on the inside and Lillywhites on the limb, the two still were neck-and-neck up the backside, but trouble was looming in the presence of Trigger Finger.
When Aldrich moved his pacer three deep before the third stanza (1:25), the altered son of Gunthatwonthewest circled the leaders and opened up lengths on his rivals. Only the final time was in doubt at the head of the lane, and when it flashed 1:53.4 there was a roar from the crowd, which knew they had witnessed the fastest mile of the year at the 'Mighty M.'
Despite having taken an overland route, Lillywhites finished second and Jaguar Jet took home the show dough.
One would have to search far and wide to find a happier man than Bruce Aldrich, Jr. after the race, as the pilot was grinning from ear to ear.
“This is a just great horse. He just gave me the fastest ride of my career on a half mile track,” Aldrich said. “Did you see all the ground we had to make up? When we caught them (the leaders) he zipped right to the front and we won it easily.”
Aldrich couldn’t thank trainer Leonard LeBlanc enough for allowing him to drive Trigger Finger. “Thanks for putting me down to drive," he said. "I really appreciate the chance to drive a horse like this."
"Trigger Finger is listed as a grey but at this stage (age three) he’s more roan than he is grey,” LeBlanc pointed out.
“You guys don’t know Leonard down here (in Monticello),” Aldrich told everyone in the winners circle. "Leonard LeBlanc is a great trainer and a legend in New England. He was one of my childhood idols, too.”
Trigger Finger, who started from Post 8, was dismissed by the betting public and went off at odds of 7-1. He returned $16.40 for a successful Win wager. Trigger Finger is owned by Noella LeBlanc and Donald Emond of Massachusetts.
(Monticello)