MR - MIKE FORTE OFF TO A GOOD START AT THE MIGHTY M IN 2012

In early 2010 Mike Forte sustained serious injuries in an horrendous racing accident here at the  Mighty M  but after three months of recuperation  the veteran harness driver  went back to  his profession. He finished that season with 190 wins of which 163  were tallied here.

Last year nearly all of his 155 winners were at the Mighty M and earlier this year, on January 11^th, Forte  won his 3000^th race.

Forte is off to his best start  at Monticello Raceway  having  already reined 54 winners this season and his total currently ranks him third on the local leaderboard, just eight wins  behind leader Jimmy Marohn, Jr.

Forte added to his victory totals yesterday, March 13, scoring triumphs in both the pacing feature and co-feature. He scored a 1:56 victory with the Robert Costello -owned and trained Game Jocko in the featured non-winners of $800 per star pace.

After coasting along in third position behind Jordan Stratton  and Cactus Creek,  Forte moved Game Jocko out to challenge as the field passed the three quarters. On the final turn they began to wear down the leader and then  went on to a three-length victory.

It was Game Jocko’s  second win of the season. His victory returned a  $5.80  mutuel payoff .

In the co-featured non-winners of $500 per start Forte’s driving strategy was different. He sent Duncan’s Western to the lead from post four but they didn’t take command until they passed the first stanza in a sharp :28.2. From there they raced virtually unchallenged and at the wire Duncan’s Western was an easy two- length winner in a time of 1:57.4.

Forte hustles  Duncan’s Western to a 1:57.4 victory in the co-feature (Geri Schwarz Photo)

Owned by Robert Dill and Robert C. Dill and sent off as then odds-on favorite, Duncan’s Western scored his  third seasonal triumph and paid $3.00 for win.