Scottish Cross trotted to a new track record for older trotting
mares at Monticello Raceway on Wednesday, September 24 when Mike Merton guided
the 9 year old daughter of Angus Hall to a 1:56.4 triumph. That clocking erased
the former standard of 1:57 co-held by Aren’t I Hanover and Mymomsablizzard,
both set last year.
It marked the second time in just a week that a track record
was lowered. On September 17, Bruce Aldrich Jr. drove On The Podium to a 1:56.2
victory which was a new standard for older trotting geldings. In all, thus far
during the 2014 season here nine new track marks were established.
Scottish Cross came to the Mighty M three weeks ago from
Canada with trainer Carmen Auciello where she had been racing splendidly in
claiming races. Mike Merton picked up the catch-drive behind her and in
her first start here on September 10 Scottish Cross was victorious in
1:58 while racing against $10, 000 claimers, she with a $12,000 claiming
allowance tag.
A move up to the $15,000 claiming ranks -she raced for
$18,750 with her allowance-- the following week resulted in a third place
finish behind On The Podium’s 1:56.2 track record. But yesterday (Sept. 24),
back down and with a $12,500 claiming tag, Merton let Scottish Cross
air-out as they trotted to an oh-so-easy nine-length track record victory over Bertos
Angel and Jimmy Taggart, Jr.
“She was pretty handy,” Merton said of Scottish Cross who
raced on the front-end from the get-go. “I was just sitting on her as we passed
the half (in :57.4) and we were just a length in front at that point but
as we headed up the backside I asked her a bit and we began to open daylight
and the farther we went the more of a lead we had.”
At the wire Scottish Cross was nine lengths in front of
runner-up Bertos Angel. Third place in that six-horse field went to Sir Siro
(Jimmy Marohn, Jr.)
However, as famous newscaster Paul Harvey often said,
‘now for the rest of the story’. Trainer Bob Lounsbury’s patron, Philip
Schultz, plunked down the 12 large and they took her from her previous owners,
Denarben Stables and Rocco Auciello.
Sent off as the betting favorite in the race Scottish Cross
won for the 12th time this year and returned a $3.20 win
payoff.
