“Oh, and don’t forget that to fill this race we need to get
horses from all over the country, “interjected Eric Warner the tracks director
of racing, who has the responsibility of getting enough of the old timers
together for a final event.. “
“With only 54 14 year olds that have started at least once
this year there’s no way that seven or eight would be racing at one track near
the end of the season. We had to make many phone calls to get enough for a
race and the (NYS) Racing Board has been very helpful by allowing us to race
both trotters and pacers together in their final time call to post.”
Oddly, this season a trotter, Speedy Big Ras, has received
the odds-maker’s nod as morning line favorite rated at 5-2.
Perhaps its Speedy Big Ras’s recent form he at the Mighty
M – a win and a second in last three outs--that attracted program
director, John Flynn’s watchful eye or that the gelding will start from
the coveted pylon position. Either way, Kyle Di Benedetto will handle the
driving for owners Anne Wheeler and Dr. Bob Keller.
But the pre-race hype has belonged to the grand ole
campaigner Tattler’s Jet, and rightly so. His 120 career victories –nine this
season--ranks him fifth best in wins over the past 60 years. Although the
$324,000 career winner will have the services of the meet’s leading driver,
Jimmy Marohn, Jr., still Dave Carter’s pacer is rated as third
choice(7-2) and will start on the far outside from post position seven.
Coming in from Michigan trainer Gene Miller will have
Tattler’s Jet on the Mighty M grounds before this day is through.
However, when all the wagering is over the post time
favorite could easily be Ken Sumner’s Whitlock N who’ll be traveling in from
Scarborough Downs in Maine where he won his last start in 2:00.1 for
Kevin Switzer, Jr. Switzer will be again in the bike when the $258,000
career earner leaves from the four-hole.
Second choice (3-1) on the early line is local campaigner
Hero’ Cavalcade. With a victory in 2:01.1 this year the Lisa Pratt-owned
Keystone Raider gelding has been knocking on the door in his recent starts
finishing second in 1:59.3 on Dec. 4 and third in 2:00.4 last time out on Dec.
18. Rick Harp will do the driving when they leave from post six.
Alba Gold, owned by Kathy Merola, will be In from Western
New York and has the unique distinction of being the last
racing off-spring of the two-time Harness Horse of the Year (1971 & 1972)
and outstanding stallion, Albatross. With five wins this year and career
earnings in excess of $372,000 Zeke Parker has the task of finding the winners
circle at the end of the Au Revoir.
There is also a second trotter in the contest who’ll be
coming in from central New York, that being Gene and Lynne Denney’s, Crowbar
Hotel, rated 8-1 on the morning line. The Westgate Crown gelding, a 107,000
career earner with a 2:00 victory to his credit this season, will start from
post two with hot-handed Bruce Aldrich, Jr. at the controls.
And Adam’s Rocket A, in from the Freehold NJ area, will
carry the longshot’s role in the Au Revoir this year. Rated at 10-1 on the
early line, the Armbro Operative gelding brings with him a lifetime record of
1:53.3 and earnings of over $230,000 in purse earnings.
The Au Revoir field, two trotters--who drew for the inside
post positions-- and five pacers, will do battle in the fourth race in
the Thursday December 27th card.The seven starters collectively have
360 wins and combined earnings in excess of $1.66 million .
The Au Revoir will be the fourth race on the13-race card.
First post is slated for 12:25pm.
