Last June Nick DeCosta never envisioned becoming a dominant force at Vesey Street when he purchased two-year-old stallion Pocket Change in Indiana.

But with each passing weekend, the veteran racer began to sense that he was onto something special as Pocket Change continued to tear the track to shreds en route to establishing a new track record for the most consecutive wins (18).

In all, DeCosta's latest addition at Inwood Stables has racked up an astounding 29 wins from 38 starts - a performance which puts his owner firmly in the reckoning for driver-of-the-year award.

But despite his astonishing exploits, DeCosta describes his rise to the fore as an "up and down" campaign.

"For sure, the season certainly had its ups and downs. There was a lot of tough competition but overall I am happy with the way my horses performed and now it's good for them to have a well deserved break," said DeCosta, who also tied the track record for the fastest time (1.05 flat) while in the sulky of GV Colonel Spence last December.

After burning up the track among the two-year-old ranks, DeCosta is now hoping for more success in the junior free-for-all bracket when racing resumes next October. But for the moment, he insists it's all about taking a break from life in the fast lane.

"The ponies will now be getting rest and basically they will get a chance to become unfit and completely relaxed," he explained following the weekend's Champion of Champions season finale.

"It's good for the horses because a lot of times they get sore muscles and stuff like that. Racing takes a serious toll on their bodies. So the off-season certainly gives them a chance to recuperate."

Last Wednesday DeCosta drove GV Colonel Spence to the four and five year-old stakes championship at Vesey Street before culminating a superb season by seizing two more wins with Pocket Change.

Veteran competitor Eddie Roque clinched the free-for-all with Gold Mate while Aaron Sims captured the three-year-old stakes with Real Shamrock.

"You just never know what you are going to get whenever you buy a horse that has never done anything before," added DeCosta. "It could turn out to be a great pony or it could turn out to be good for nothing!"

DeCosta reckoned that there would be added pressure placed upon him come next season.

"There is always pressure starting off a new season because there will be new horses coming in and a lot of new competition. And then you are hoping that your horse improves for the next season. For a horse like Pocket Change, it's all a matter of hoping that he continues to improve and certainly it would be nice if he became a free-for-all horse."

But the driver has already set new goals for next season among the higher ranks.

"It would be pushing him (Pocket Change) a little bit as a three-year-old, but Colonel Spence was in the free-for-all as a three-year-old and so was Killer's Legacy this season. So it's not impossible."