Lively Moment scores in Mighty M trot

With not enough horses entered in the winners-over trot, Lively Moment  scored her second consecutive victory against some of the better trotters on the grounds  when she copped the featured $7,500 non-winners of $800 per start trot at Monticello Raceway on Wednesday afternoon.

 

Bruce Aldrich Jr., who was in the sulky for trainer Bob Lounsbury, sent the 6-year-old mare to the front at the quarter pole after being circled on the first turn. Once on top, Lively Moment raced unchallenged past the half in :59.4 and  it wasn’t until she headed up the backstretch the second time around that any of the others made any challenging move.

 

The first to pull was Kyle DiBenedetto with I’m Max but they never got close to the leader as the line-up remained the same from the quarter pole.

 

Lively Moment had two lengths on East Creek Huck ( Mike Micallef)--who was enjoying a covered two-hole journey--when they passed the three quarters and Lively Moment held that lead through the homestretch and finished two lengths ahead of Micallef’s trotter. Third place went to the betting favorite Valcyon Days, driven by Zeke Parker.

 

It was the sixth victory of the season for Lively Moment as she raised her yearly bankroll to  over $52,000 for owner King Of The Hill Stable from North White Plains, N.Y.

 

Last year Lively Moment set a  world record when she won the 1 3/4-miles Monticello Marathon in 3:42.4, also with Aldrich at the controls.

 

The victory with Lively Moment was one of three on the card for Aldrich and the second winner of the day for trainer Lounsbury.

 

Aldrich also scored behind the Lounsbury-trained Windy Hill Buddy in 2:00.2 and win number three was with Superstar Hall in 2:00.3. (Monticello)