Just four weeks ago Monica Banca received her provisional
license and the Norwegian native has shown she has a talent in the
sulky. Not only did she win the final of the Catskill Amateur Driver’s
Club’s Pacing Series yesterday (June 26)at Monticello Raceway but in five
trips to post in betting races Monica has won four times. And her
last three drives here were all winning ones.
In Wednesday’s fourth race here Banca had the favorite
,Indescribable from the pole position, and she drove the veteran gelding like
he was the best.
She sent her pacer to the lead and they reached the first
stanza in :28.4. Despite a first-up move nearing the half by Tom Riddle
and driver Steve Oldford, Monica sat calm in the sulky, occasionally glancing
at her challenger.
Up the backside a battle ensued and the two pacers
were neck and neck to the third stanza. As they headed for home, Indescribable
drew off a length and coasted to 1-1/4 length victory in a
1:58 clocking over Tom Ridge. Third place, two lengths behind the winner, was B
B Smash with Matt Zucccarello at the controls.
When Banca returned to the winners circle with
her pacer the first thing she said was “He’s awesome” referring to
Indescribable. “I didn’t think we’d win it at the top of the stretch but
he’s a classy old horse and I learn a lot when I drive him.”
Banca also won the last CADC preliminary on June 19 with
Indescribable in 1:58.3 using the passing lane to victory that time.
“ I was a little nervous today because Rick (Dane, Jr, her
partner and mentor) had to go to Pocono (Downs) and I was all alone with the
horse before the race. But I’m not nervous now…I’m happy,” she said as she was
being presented the trophy for winning the series finale.
Indescribable won for the fourth time in
16 starts. The 6-year-old Cole Muffler gelding is owned by Dane and
Banca and trained by Dane. He returned a 4.30 win mutuel.
Also of note on the on the June 26th card
was the impressive 2:00.2 victory in his first lifetime start by HD’s
Dream Boy, a 2 year old pacing colt by If I Can Dream out of My Gal Hall by
Cambest..
Trainer Sean Campbell had Pat Beeler again handle the
driving chores (Beeler qualified him in 2:05.3 on June 19) behind HD
Dream Boy and Beeler zipped the colt to the front and he paced every
quarter around 30 seconds (:29.3, 30.3, 30.2, 29.4) and finished with an
easy 2-1/2 length triumph over Princess Cantilena and Bruce
Aldrich, Jr.
“This is some nice colt,” Beeler exclaimed after the
victory. “He’s just now learning his lessons and he’s got a great way of
going. He’s gonna beat a lot of them before it’s all over.”
HD Dream Boy is owned by Daniel Meier of Fort Covington, NY.
He paid $5.50 for win.
