Special Graduate was in command in the first of three conditioned harness racing co-features at a muddyĀ Monticello RacewayĀ on Apr. 12.
DriverĀ Bruce Aldrich Jr.Ā pushed theĀ Art MajorĀ mare to the top through the quarter in :29.2. He sliced out middle fractions of :59.4 and 1:29.4 while maintaining a length-and-a-quarter gap to first-over Delilah De Vie (Jim Taggart Jr.).
Special Graduate pulled away with ease and was wrapped up crossing the finish line in 2:00.2. Rella Tivity’s (Drew Chellis) pocket trip landed her the place spot, and Delilah De Vie stayed on for third. The winner paid $3.20.
SPECIAL GRADUATE REPLAY
Special Graduate’s win was her 10th on 35 lifetime attempts, and it increased her bankroll to more than $45,000. David Dziengiel trains and co-owns with Robert Sholes and Edward Davis, all of whom are residents of Bloomingburg.
Quick Summer took the second co-feature in similar fashion, though she was under duress for the entire back half and won a close photo.
Quick Summer sprinted out to the lead and enjoyed opening splits of :30.4 and 1:02.1 under the guidance ofĀ Michael Merton. Er Betty (Taggart) went first up going past the half and attacked the leader, drawing level at one point but backing off as they approached three-quarters in 1:32.1.
Er Betty persisted through, and Mayfair Well (Cory Stratton) slid up the inside as they straightened for home, setting the stage for a three-across finish. Mayfair Well went strongly on the inside, but Quick Summer was too determined and edged the victory by a neck in 2:02.4. The former was a game second, and Er Betty fought on for third.
QUICK SUMMER REPLAY
Quick Summer is now 12-for-87 lifetime with just shy of $85,000 in earnings. Barbara Schlosser of The Bronx owns the seven-year-oldĀ Prayer I AmĀ mare and employs Dennis Laterza as the trainer. The horse paid $5.60 to win.
Best Choice captured the final co-feature, going first-up in a double move effort.
She pressed on from post six, vying for early position and settling for the third spot on the rail just past the quarter in :29.3. Merton kept her on the inside going by the half in 1:00.3 as the outer flow got moving. That choice paid off as the first-over contender backed up on the final backside trip, allowing Best Choice to make a first-up move of her own to go after leader The New Americana (Justin Huckabone).
Best Choice was at the leader’s bridle at three-quarters in 1:30.3 and went by, but she was unable to clear turning for home, allowing The New Americana to re-rally up the pylons. They dueled down the lane, but Best Choice earned the victory and won by a half length in 2:00.1 The New Americana settled for place, and Realistic (John De Simone Jr.) followed the winner’s cover for show.
BEST CHOICE REPLAY
Best choice won first off the claim for Mo Coo Inc of Merrick and Andew Adamcyzk of Middletown. Adamcyzk also trains the five-year-oldĀ PonderĀ mare that has won 13 of her 58 starts and earned more than $55,000 lifetime.
Monticello Raceway will return on Tuesday, Apr. 13 with nine races kicking off at 12:10 EDT.
For full race results,Ā click here.
by Nicholas Barnsdale, for Harnesslink