By Shawn F.
Wiles
The
conditions were perfect on a beautiful summer afternoon, the temperature was
85, the infield flag limp, the track fast, all perfect conditions for a Track
Record.
The action
started right away in the first race, going for a purse of $53,500. Allerage Echo
put his name in the record books by virtue of his 1:58:1 mark. It was his
4th win in a row, for the Conway Hall – Echonomical colt, who was bred by
Little E LLC. The easy going son of Conway Hall upping his careers earnings to
$121,000, for winning driver Chris Lems.
Credevie showed the way as the gate
left for Trond Smedshammer. He was followed in hot pursuit by
Smalltownthrowdown, Dan Daley tucked Smalltownthrowdown into the 2 hole after
briefly being parked down the backside before the ¼ marker. The 2/5 favorite
Allerage Echo made his move once Daley settled in and had the lead in a blink
of an eye, parked at the ¼ in 29, he then cleared and was never heeded the rest
of the mile, taking the field through fractions of 59:1, 1:29:3, Credevie made
a break in the paddock turn and the contest turned into a 2 horse race.
Smalltownthrowdown came first over but was not able to close the gap. Allerage
Echo prevailed to win in 1:58:1 by 4 lengths, for trainer George Ducharme, who
has enjoyed much success at Monticello Raceway this season in NY Sire Stake
events. Owner Ken Jacobs was ecstatic in the winners circle. “We
purchased the colt off a qualifier at Vernon Downs and put him the George
Ducharme barn and have had great success, exclaimed Ken Jacobs “He’s a beast”
said winning driver Chris Lems following the win the in the winners circle,
with an ear to ear smile.
Race 8, 2nd heat of Sire
Stake action had 6 starters. Cupid, driven by Trond Smedshammer for the Purple
Haze Stable, tripped the timers in 28:3, 58:3 and 1:28:4, at this point the
recent new track record that was barely dry on paper was in jeopardy of being
broken, at the top of the lane Cupid was getting leg weary, Dan Daley and Crown
Point who had been stalking the leader the entire mile, over took Cupid in a
stirring stretch drive. The son of Crazed – Tierra broke his maiden,
scoring in 1:59.0, for trainer driver Dan Daley and owners Daley, Crawford and
Lombardo. Cupid hung on for second and Dog Gone Lucky was 3rd for
trainer Chuck Sylvester and driver John Campbell.
Excelsior A - $15,000
Race 4, first division of the A’s
went for a purse of $15,000. Gremlin Wilson sat the garden spot the
entire mile behind pace setter HZ Royalty and driver Jeff Gregory. As the
pair turned for home Gremlin Wilson, was not to be denied, using the passing
lane to edge HZ Royalty in 2:00:3 for winnings owner and driver John Cummings
Jr. The son of Sand Vic is trained by Megan Wilson.
The last heat of the A class saw
Omaha Set Up (PP4), make a bold first over move at the 5/8 marker to score a
measured win over Radical Way in 2:00:4 for the Gideon Stables. The
Credit Winner colt is trained by Tyler Freese and driven by Corey Braden.
The 1/5 favorite Sweet Royalty made a break before the ¼ and was never a
factor.
Excelsior B - $6,700
Reasonforpleasin scored his 2nd
win in this company for former Monticello Raceway driver Jay Randall and owners
Michael Polansky in 2:01:4. The Conway Hall colt now has 2 wins in the
Excelsior series under his belt.
In Race 3, John Campbell was aboard
Dollar Billiards, he left the gate to take the lead, in the middle of the first
turn his steed made a break. Ray Schnittker aboard One Chief inherited
the lead. The Lucky Chucky – Chippewa Street colt extended his lead at
every stanza to win by 7 lengths in 2:02:2 for owners Schnittker, Demeter and
H. Burns.
