“Never , at least, to my knowledge, did a racetrack ever
card a race in which all the drivers carried a ‘Jr.’ after their
names like our Junior Free For All did last year,” noted Eric Warner the
tracks director of racing. “It was a fan favorite and we’re bringing it back
again this season.”
On Monday (June 17) eight juniors will again line-up behind
the mobile starting gate and compete in the second edition of the Mighty
M’s Junior Free For which will be the sixth race on the card that afternoon.
“This race is meant as a tribute to all dads, but especially
to the fathers of the competing drivers,” Warner added. “We don’t race on
Sundays or we would have scheduled this race on Father’s Day (June 17).”
As luck would have it, the tracks leading driver, Bruce
Aldrich Jr., has drawn the 5-2 favorite in the race in the presence
of Lady Belle, and they’ll start from the two hole.
Billy “Zeke” Parker, Jr., the 18-time driving champ here at
Monticello was off the board in the inaugural but arguably will fare better
this time when he jumps up behind Reilette, the 3-1second choice on the morning
line, and leave from post three.
Strangely, KZ Bezz, the pacing mare who won last
year’s Junior Free For All in a 1:57.4 clocking will be looking to make it two
for two this year. Driven last season by Greg Decker, Jr. , this
time she’ll have a new driver in Jimmy Taggart, Jr. since he drew her in
the lottery drawing for the horses.
Peter Lutman, Jr. may have be the sleeper in the
contest with Hannah’s Creek and the pole position. Two starts back the 8
year old mare won here in 1:59 on the engine and a trip like that on Monday may
put Lutman in the winner’s circle.
Other drivers featured in this contest include: Jimmy
Marohn, Jr., Joe Ricco, Jr., Johnny De Simone, Jr and Jimmy Doherty, Jr.
It should be known that both driving assignments and post
positions, were drawn by lot.
Here’s the field for the Junior Free For All .. with
post positions , morning line odds, and drivers
1-
Hannahs Creek (7-2 )….. Peter Lutman Jr.2- Lady Belle (5-2)……….…...Bruce Aldrich, Jr.
3- Reillette (3-1)…………….…Billy Parker, Jr
4- Musical Maven (10-1).…Jimmy Marohn, Jr.
5- KZ Bezz (4-1)………….……Jimmy Taggart, Jr.
6- Eden First (8-1)….…......Joe Ricco, Jr.
7- Bouncy Three (9-2……..Jimmy Doherty, Jr
8- Asian Express (12-1)..…Johnny DeSimone, Jr.
Post time for the 13-race card on Monday, June 17 will be at
the usual 12:50pm. The Junior Free For All will be race number six.
