So with the aforementioned in mind handicappers will
have to make a decision in Monticello Raceway’s 1-3/4 mile Marathon Trot which
will go to post in race number four on Wednesday afternoon, December 19. Will
class hold up in this long distance race?
When the Mighty M last programmed their marathon in
2009 Pembroke Prayer and Mike Micallef established a new world record of 3:40
on a half mile track over that distance. That victory erased the former world
standard of 3:42.4 which was set here at the Mighty M the previous season by
Lively Moment.
But unlike the previous seasons where an entrant
looked superior to its competition this year it appears that things will be
different in this eight horse Monticello Marathon..
Favored Collect Call, who’ll start from post seven
with Tyler Buter aboard, will be coming in from out of town and has
been racing in higher classes that most of the others in Wednesday’s
contest but his official final race times are not all that much better than
some of the others in the race.
Halfpipe, rated as second choice on the early line,
will leave from the eight hole and sports two consecutive victories in his last
two outings. The meet’s leading driver Jimmy Marohn Jr. will again be in the
sulky for trainer Dan Gill, himself battling for leading trainer honors
here..
Claude Huckabone III’s DW’s Devine, who won a
1-½ trot in 3:05.1 at Saratoga Raceway in early November and Howmuchubench
who finished second in a 1-¼ mile trot at Harrah’s Philadelphia on November 18
will be no pushovers either. The former will start from post position six while
the latter will leave from post two with Mike Simons at the controls.
Others who will have to be reckoned with include
Zeke Parker’s Famous Dude whose nine seasonal victories prove he has winning
ways and the veteran Imallottocatch (Mike Forte) who has raced against
the best trotters o the grounds here this past season.
Dreamnwillie with Austin Siegelman, in from
Saratoga, and Justin Huckabone’s Buckshot Victor, also a Saratoga Raceway
import round out the eight-horse field.
“It’s true that Collect Call appears to be the
classiest in this field but it’s really hard to get a bead on just how well
these trotters will race over the 1-3/4 miles, “noted John Flynn, the tracks
program director and morning line oddsmaker,” After all this will be the first
time that any of them will compete in race of that distance.”
According to Mighty M director of racing, Eric
Warner, the longer distance is a great equalizer.“We’ve had a 1-3/4 mile race
quite a few times over the years but this race appears to be our most
competitive one.”
The Monticello Marathon will be the fourth race on
the Wednesday afternoon card of December 19. First post will be at 12:25pm.
