Opening Leg of the RUS
MidAtlantic Series at Ocean Downs to be Contested
By RUS MidAtlantic
(Berlin, Maryland) - The 2017 RUS MidAtlantic Monte Trotting
Series kicks off this Sunday, August 20, 2017 at Ocean Downs Racetrack and a
select field of six trotters will be competing for a purse of $5,000 in this
non-wagering event. The race is
scheduled to be contested between the fifth and sixth races on the regular
program.
Following this leg of the
series, the second leg is scheduled for Saturday, September 9 at the
Meadowlands with the series final being contested at Rosecroft Raceway on
Sunday, October 8.
For the initial leg of the series, the field of six trotters
appear to present an interesting puzzle with several of the horses meriting serious
consideration for top honors. In post
position order:
One True Friend (post 1, Hillary Hartnett) has compiled a
record of 5-2-2-0 this year with a lifetime mark of 2:03.3 set at Tioga Downs with
seasonal earnings of $1,695. Since One True Friend’s victory at Tioga, she has two second place finishes at Upstate New
York fairs. With a return to the raceways,
Hartnett is looking for the Wesley Miller trainee to return to her winning
ways.
2016 RUS New York Fair Series Champion Admirable Hanover (post
2, Vanessa Karlewicz) comes into the race off a victory at the Oswego County
Fair to account for his lone win thus far in three starts for 2017. The ten year old altered son of Cantab Hall
has thus far this year a 3-1-2-0 record with $1,533 in earnings. His lifetime mark of 2:03.4 was set last year
in the Fair Final held at Batavia Downs.
Finishing second to One True Friend at Tioga Downs, Owner/Trainer/Rider
Vanessa Karlewicz is hoping to turn the tables on his opponent.
Making his seasonal debut this year is Hyway Marcus (post 3,
Sasha Moczulski), a winner of three races out of five RUS starts lifetime. With a lifetime mark of 1:59.1 set in 2016,
Marcus comes into this race off a qualifying effort at Monticello Raceway but
benefits from returning to one of his favorite tracks, winning here in 2015 and
finishing second in 2016. In last year’s
RUS America series, the talented son of Gut Instinct won at Rosecroft Raceway
in addition to the previously mentioned second place finish at the Ocean. Trained by Josh Green, Sasha Moczulski gets
the call on Hyway Marcus for the first time.
While the first three horses figure to be prominent in the
race, post positions four and five feature two horses making their RUS debuts. Making his first lifetime start under saddle
for trainer John Calabrese is Keenan (post 4, Maria Buchanan). Keenan qualified at Ocean Downs last Friday
(August 10), in 2:06.1 and hopes to build upon the qualifier. In sulky, Keenan has lifetime earnings of nearly
$560,000. If any of that talent passes
over to the saddle, Kennan will be a formidable foe.
Another horse making their debut is Pine Tab (post
5, Helene Gregory). A Nick Surick trainee,
Pine Tab was victorious in his only morning trial, winning his qualifier at
Gaitway Farms back in June in a crisp 2:00.1.
Helene Gregory returns to ride the son of Cantab Hall.
Drawing the outside post six and making his first RUS start
in two years is Catalyst (post 6, Stephanie Jacobs). In 2015, Catalyst compiled a 2-0-1-1 record
and a 1:59Q mark set at Gaitway Farms.
In his comeback qualifier, Catalyst was victorious in 2:01. Jody Dunning has the training duties while RUS
MidAtlantic President Stephanie Jacobs gets the call on the eight year old
gelding.
In addition to the race, RUS Riders will be available
trackside for a Meet and Greet. Fans and
individuals interested in more information on racing under saddle are invited
to attend.
