The Mayflower Mile, the seventh leg of Monticello Raceway’s year-long Heritage Drivers Series, will go to post on Monday afternoon, September 24th. The event will feature the driving talents of drivers of English extraction, which includes any country part of the United Kingdom.
Headlining to field of drivers who’ll participate is Billy
“Zeke” Parker, Jr., the seventh winningest driver in the sports history who has
already recorded 10,787 driving victories. He has drawn the early line favorite
Doc’s Whiskey, a 1:59.4 winner earlier this season, who’ll start from the
four-hole.
However, Parker will have to contend with other
talented reinsmen. Bruce Aldrich, Jr, a lifetime winner of 3,968 races; Kyle
Dibenedetto (5,580 wins); and the track’s current driving leader Greg Merton
(3,510 wins) will be looking to turn the tables on Parker.
Aldrich will handle the early second choice, True Gritty
from the two-hole while Merton has Sharron R from post three. DiBenedetto’s
mount, Lightning Madison, doesn’t appear strong on paper but having to
start from the pole position could be beneficial for him.
Chuck Poynton, (387 wins)who won the Mayflower Mile back in
2005 has drawn Kewl Girl and will start from post five. Rick Harp (1670 wins),
making his inaugural appearance in this event, will handle We Shall See
when the mare leaves from the post position seven.
Young Cory Stratton (67 wins) has drawn a contender in
Moving In Together but having to start from the eight-hole could cause a
problem.
Talented amateur reinsman Gerry Fielding , rounds out the
field of drivers in this Mayflower Mile. He’ll be up behind Shezaflamintower
and will start from post position six.
As usual Parker didn’t have much to say but that’s not
unusual, he never does. But Greg Merton, the defending champ having won the
last Mayflower Mile with Tradin’ Paint in a 1:59.3, had an opinion and he
expressed it.
“Though Zeke has the favorite, his mare (Doc’s
Whiskey) hasn’t been sharp in her last few starts so I believe this
race is wide open. I think Bruce’s mare (True Gritty) is the one to beat.
My mare (Sharron R) shows some class earlier this year and if she can come back
to that form on Monday we’ll be right there at the wire,” Merton said.
The Mayflower Mile is the fifth race on Monticello Monday
afternoon card of September 24th. First post will be at
12:50pm. Tentative post time for the Mayflower Mile is 2:05pm.
