By Shawn F. Wiles
Not a stranger to multiple wins on a race card Jimmy Morrill
Jr. owned the afternoon after posting 4 wins on the card, 3 of which were NYSS
events.
In the first Sire Stakes division of the day, Race 1, worth
$29,850, last year’s Night of Champions 2 Year Old Colt Pace winner Cartoon
Daddy left strong for the lead, he relinquished the front past the ¼ in 28:3 to
A Bettor Hat, who took them past the half in 57:2. The eventual winner
was sitting 3rd, at the 5/8 marker Jason Bartlett Jr. and
Americanprimetime were on the move and charging, a spirited stretch drive
ensued as Americanprimetime edged A Bettor Hat in 1:54.2 by a scant neck.
Trained by Rick Dane Jr. for owners Rock & Roll Stables.
2nd Division (Race 5) J Eagle Feather scored a
wire to win over the pocket sitting SOTO, giving Morrill his second win of the
young afternoon in 1:54:3. The son of Bettors Delights is trained by
Linda Toscano. His win was his 2nd consecutive win in Sire
Stake Company. Finishing 3rd was Lone Survivor.
Race 8 was the 3rd division, K Ryan Bluechip
started from the rail, after an impressive win last week at Pocono Downs in
1:50:3, Kid Rock and National Seelster blasted off the gate, National Seelster
wrestled control at the ¼ mile and led the rest of the way, King of Delight
driven by Scot Zeron mounted a threat in the paddock turn. K-Rock sat in
the Garden spot the entire mile, in perfect striking distance heading in the
stretch he dived into the passing lane, but to no avail as he was unable to
catch National Seelster who won by a neck in 1:54:4. The son of Bettors
Delight was driven by Jim Morrill Jr. for trainer Chris Ryder.
Race 13, the 7 horse field raced in post-position order
until just past the half when the outer tier started to unfold, Scott Zeron
pulled Artistic Major first over and was at the back of My Spirit Soars but was
never able to make up any ground as Jimmy Morrill Jr. won his 4th
race of the afternoon in 1:54:1. After the race in the winner’s circle
when congratulated on his 4 win of the afternoon, Jimmy said “I should have won
the other Sire Stakes event also, I just got beat!”
The most impressive race of the day came in the last race,
an Excelsior A division. John Butenschoen’s son of Art Major, Gold Coast
Muscle went down the road, he put the sleeper move on the field with a pair of
middle quarters of 28.0, he took them past the ¾ in 1:24:1 to win easy in the
days fastest mile 1:53 by open lengths.
Longtime NY owner and patron of the sport Ken Jacobs, has 2
winners on the day.
In other action, Division A winners were Major Camby - James
Marohn Jr. - 1:56:1, 1:56, American Cross Road – Matt Kakaley – 1:56:1 by 8
lengths, , Nobettorplacetobe John Cummings Jr. 1:54:4. The Excelsior B series
winners were Simon Said - Jim Morrill Jr. - Tarport Andy - Jim Devaux - 1:57:2.
Monticello Raceway continues to have strong support from the
betting public as $761,000 was wagered on the card for a $53,357 average per
race.
