Harness racing driver Greg Merton and Special Achiever controlled the Thursday, Apr. 22 Monticello Raceway co-feature throughout and won by open lengths.
Special Achiever left best and scrambled to the front. She laid down splits of :28.4, :58.2, and 1:27.3, never being lapped on by an outside challenger from the field of eight. The mare kicked away turning for home and won by three and three quarter lengths going away.
Rock on Lou (Bruce Aldrich Jr.) came on late for second but interfered with Skyway Ballet (Kyle DiBenedetto) and was placed third. Skyway Ballet was promoted to place.
SPECIAL ACHIEVER REPLAY
Special Achiever is now five-for-43 lifetime and has earned just less than $60,000 for owner Melvyn Colby of Great Neck. Peter Pellegrino trains the four-year-old by American Ideal.
The horse played $3.20 to win.
Redding Hanover had slightly more difficulty in the second co-feature, but his dominance was similar.
Jim Taggart Jr. sent the stallion away third as two out-left him on the outside. Taggart moved him back around as soon as those leavers settled, taking the lead as they hit the quarter in :29.3. Redding Hanover was in control from there, setting fractions of :59.1 and 1:28.3 on his way to a five-and-a-half-length romp in 1:57.4.
Gentlemansattitude (Brandon Parker) was second best, and Averys Hailstorm (Jim Devaux) made inroads late to take third.
REDDING HANOVER REPLAY
This was Redding Hanover’s first finish that was better than fifth since October 2020 and his second start ever at Monticello. The four-year-old by Mach Three has won three of his 36 lifetime appearances and earned more than $35,000. Jean Drolet trains for Funky Munkey Stable of Middletown and Marthe Drolet of Matamoras.
Merton went on to win three of the day’s nine races.
Monticello Raceway will return on Monday, Apr. 26 with a nine-race program starting at 12:10 p.m. EDT.
For full race results, click here.
by Nicholas Barnsdale, for Harnesslink