Overlooked by the betting crowd, Casto and Merlincrest got
away eighth after starting from the pole position. Still eighth at the halfway
point Caston, moved his trotter from the back of the pack and by the time the
field had passed the three quarters they were third, but three-deep as the
final turn loomed. However, Merlincrest found more trot and scooted
to the lead as the field approached the top of the lane and then they
rebuffed a strong late challenge by the favorite, Eye Of The Tiger, driven by
“Lady Kara Sue” Buxton to hold on to win it. Third place went to
Mylittlej driven by Richard “the Lion-Hearted” Roach.
“It seemed like everyone in the race was leaving and we got
away badly in that :28.1 first quarter,” Caston related. “So I got into
the outer- flow going to the half and we moved three- wide up the
backside and when we came off the last turn we had the lead and my horse
held on gamely to win it. I’ll tell you I felt like a million bucks.”
For Doc Caston, a veterinarian by trade, it marked his first
winning drive since 2007 although he drove only 22 times since that date.
“Every year my horse broke down or couldn’t go enough so I
didn’t get a chance to drive much. But I just bought this little horse
(Merlincrest) and I’m tickled to death with him. He nice to drive and we get
along well,” Caston explained on why he only had a limited amount of starts in
amateur races over the past few years. “But now I’m ready for
action this year and I’m looking forward to it.”
Merlincrest paid $42.00 for win and it was the first race
that Caston’s newly purchased trotter had won this year. For the “Doo Wop Doc”
it marked his 30th amateur driving victory.
