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Tuesday, December 17, 2013

MR - JIMMY MAROHN, JR. DRAWS THE HOT FAVORITE IN THE HERITAGE DRIVERS SERIES FINAL



When it comes to half-mile track racing the luck of the draw sometimes is a determining factor. Although that phrase is usually used in conjunction with the post position draw, in Monticello Raceway’s  All -America Cup, the Final of the Heritage Drivers Series, it takes on a greater meaning and one that Jimmy Marohn, Jr. benefits from.

Marohn, the winner of the St. Paddy Pace for drivers of Irish heritage, drew post position six but he also drew Hickory Louie, the hot favorite in the event which will be the sixth race on the Thursday (Dec.19) program .

Hickory Louie, from the powerful Bob Lounsbury barn, hasn’t tasted defeat since October 8th and racing with a $5000 claiming tag, the pacer fits well in this contest and is certainly the one to beat.

The Mighty M’s Heritage Drivers Series  is comprised of eight races for drivers of different ethnicities and presented at various intervals throughout the racing season, and not only are post positions drawn by lot but driving assignments are too, and the luck of the draw has been good to Marohn.

However, Caiden’s Colt, a 1:58.4 winner in his last start on December 7 at Batavia Downs, may supply some serious competition and Majo Just Do it, a 1:53.3 winner at Vernon Downs in early November, could also be a factor..

Dennis Watson, winner of the Dr. Martin Luther King Pace for African- American drivers, will pilot  Caiden’s Colt and start from post five while Rock Vinci, winner of the Godfather Pace for Italian Americans, will handle Majo Just Do It and start from post five.

And  Aaron Byron, winner of the Maple Leaf Mile for drivers of Canadian heritage, could also be in the hunt with Secluded Island,  a 1:58.2 winner in mid-November who’ll leave  from the two hole.
Others in the field include: Atoka Woodstock (#1) with the Passover Pace winner, Bob Krivelin ; High Mileage (#4) with Munich Mile winner, Mike Merton ; Five Star Stud (#7) with Mayflower Mile winning  driver, Kyle DiBenedetto; and Clive Hanover (#8) with Veronica Merton, the Lady Godiva winner.

Post time for the 13-race card will be at 12:25pm. The All-America Cup will go to post at approximately  2:00PM.