Crazy About Pat trotted to a new 3-year-old colt track
record at Monticello Raceway when Jimmy Morrill, Jr. guided the son of Crazed
to a 1:57 triumph in his division of the $155,000 New York Sires Stakes on
Tuesday afternoon, September 17. The colt’s victory erased the former
standard of 1:57.1 set by Napoleon and driver Stephane Bouchard on June 11,
2008.
Morrill also won the second NYSS split with Tirade Hanover
in a time of 1:58.2 and he won a $12,700 division of the Excelsior Series
with Robin Would in 2:00.4.
But the buzz was about the ease in which Crazy About
Pat established the new track record where the son of
Crazed-Dibrizzi trotted off to a stunning nine length victory over Order By
Keeper driven by Marcus Johansson.
Sent off the prohibitive favorite from the five-hole Morrill
sent his trotter to the lead but they didn’t gain command until they neared the
quarter pole. From there Crazy About Pat trotted off by himself and was open
lengths in front the rest of the mile..
At the half the colt was three lengths and was four in
front on the final turn. When Crazy About Pat straightened in the lane,
without any urging from his driver, they sailed home an easy nine- length
victor over Order By Keeper and driver Marcus Johansson. Third place went
to Crazed N Lindy (Jimmy Marohn, Jr.)
When told he set a new mark for 3 year old trotters, Morrill
was asked if his colt could have gone faster since he had beaten
the record by just one-fifth of a second.
“He had a lot left in the tank and we could have gone
more but why would we?” Morrill said. “We’ve got enough points for
(to be eligible to) the ($225,000 NYSS) final.”
Owned by the Patricia Stable of Massapequa, NY and trained
by Noel Daley, Crazy About Pat raised his seasonal bankroll to over 256,000 and
returned a $2.40 win mutuel.
In the other $79,375 division Morrill left cautiously from
the seven hole with Tirade Hanover and they skirted the
confusion triggered by the breaking horses on the first turn and they
ended up on the lead in a soft :29.4 first stanza.
From there Morrill got away with a :30.3 second
quarter and Tirade Hanover went on to a very easy six- length
triumph over Theraputic and driver Aaron Byron in a 1:58.3 clocking. Modest
Prince (Andy Miller) was third under the wire but placed fifth by the judges
when his interference while on a break which caused the field to scatter
on the first turn. Kegler Hanover (Marcus Johansson) was awarded the show dough.
Morrill, who never says too much about the winners he
drives, had a broad smile on his face when he and Tirade Hanover returned to
the winners circle.
“He’s the horse to beat in the(NYSS) final,” Morrill
blurted out without even being asked a question..
Owned by Leigh Raymer, Stephen Moss and Harold
& Helene Solomon, it was the fourth consecutive victory and fifth in
10 starts for Tirade Hanover and the son of Crazed-Teagarden
Hanover raised his seasonal earnings to over $188,000.
Of the five Excelsior Series trots the most impressive was
Bay Pond Stables Ex King when Dan Daley drove the CR Excalbur-Crown
Crysta gelding to a 1:57.1 victory for the youngster’s third win in his
last five starts.
Asked why they raced Ex King in the Excelsior Series instead
of the Sire Stakes , Daley replied; “He was no good early and only has come
around recently. And besides we needed to earn enough points to be eligible to
the (Excelsior) series final.”
Other Excelsior Series winners included Brookroaddonnie
(1:59.1- Mike Simons); Signal Hill PK (1:59.4-Stephane Bouchard) and
Jelectric (2:01-Jimmy Marohn, Jr.)
