Aldrich reaches 3,000 at Monticello

Bruce Aldrich Jr. entered the Wednesday racing program at Monticello needing just one more victory to reach 3,000 career wins. And he didn’t waste any time in procuring that milestone triumph when he subbed for an absent Zeke Parker and reined Belle Amor Stables' Sweet Love Roknrol to a 2:03.3 score in the first race on the card.

 

“I’ve been busy racing my own  horses and catch-driving for other trainers and have been in nearly every race, every day here, and I really didn’t have that much time to think about the possibility of winning my 3,000th," said Aldrich. "And I’m glad I didn’t. It seems (that) when a  driver gets close  to a record victory luck doesn’t go his way, but I’ve been lucky and thankfully it didn’t take me long ( to reach his milestone).”

 

Aldrich, who has been driving better than ever, has been keeping the pressure on Billy Dobson for most driving victories at the meeting. He started the day trailing Dobson by three wins (59-56) and added  four more wins on Wednesday's card.

 

After his victory with Sweet Love Roknrol, Aldrich won the third race with Michelle Logothety’s Sand Casteel in 2:03.2 and came right back to win the fourth with Sanley Indig’s trotter Mystical Prayer in a 2:02.2 clocking. Win number four came behind April Aldrich and Nick Logothetis’ trotter Konchie in a time of 2:01.1 in the weekly trotting feature.

 

Dobson, who has been the leader from the get-go this season added a couple of victories to his totals. He scored with Sitting Bull’s Stables Wolf’s Fawn in 2:02.1 in the second race and then won the ninth with KDD enterprises Texas Treasure in a time of 2:02.1.

 

With the track's Thursday card cancelled, when racing resumes on March 1 Dobson will hold a  one win advantage, 61-60. (Monticello)