Veteran reinsman Kyle Di Benedetto has driven plenty of
winners in his career; 5837 to be exact.
And he’s driven many that have returned a big mutuel
payoffs. But when he won the third race I 2:00.3
on Tuesday afternoon (May 13) with Mia
Casino from the seven- hole at Monticello Raceway the 7 year old Bettor’s
Delight pacing mare paid a whopping $282.00 for win.
In that contest Di Benedetto and Mia Casino started slowly
and by the halfway point in 1:01 they still were at the end of the eight horse
field.
As the field headed up the backside Di Benedetto moved his
pacing mare into two-horse position and they began some forward movement.
By the third stanza they were still five lengths off the
leader but in sixth position. As they rounded the final turn Di Benedetto moved
Mia Casino down along the pylons and they used the passing lane to score an
easy one-length victory over MoDonna and driver Jason Ryan.
“Starting in the seven-hole is never an advantage but I
thought if we got a little racing luck we could get some money, after all she
won in (1):59 flat a few starts back,” Di Benedetto said after the race was
completed. “She went a real good race today and finished strong.
“I can’t tell you how surprised I was when I returned to the
winners circle and saw she was 99-1 on the (tote) board, but that was only part
of the story. She went off even longer (odds) because she paid $282.00 for win.
She (Mia Casino) is biggest longshot I ever won with.”
It was the second victory of the season for Mia Casino whose
owned and trained by John Stubits.
