The temperature at Monticello Raceway on Wednesday, January
8 barely rose above 13-degrees(F) but it certainly was more conducive to winter
racing than the previous day when it never got above 2-degrees(F).
Wagering that day was good and after racing fans were
greeted by chalk in the first 11 races ,led by three winners driven by
Bruce Aldrich, Jr., it was bombs away in the final two events on the
afternoon card.
Low payoffs –save a $10.20 mutuel in race eight-prevailed
early to the delight of the chalk players but when Austin Siegelman
snuck up the passing lane to score a ahead victory in the 12th race
with Samsawinner, hunch bettors were rewarded with a $46.20 mutuel. But
that payoff paled after the results of the 13th race were posted.
When the judges declared that And We Danced got up for
a triumph in the final strides, the 53-1 shot driven by Jason Ryan, the
faithful pocketed $108.50 for every two dollar ticket they held.
In their contest Siegelman left quickly from the seven
hole with Samsawinner and found cover down along the
inside but not until they approached the quarter which was trotted
in :29.2. From there Siegelman hugged the pylons trotting along in third
position. When they reached the top of the stretch and the passing lane opened
the 21 year old reinsman aimed Samsawinner for the shortest route to the
wire and they trotted by the leader Cashabunch ( Bruce Aldrich,
Jr.) and then held off late rallies from Painite (Truman Gale) and
Get Chipped (Jimmy Taggart, Jr) to prevail by a head in 2:01.3.
It was the first victory of the season and 33rd
overall for the 8-year-old Victory Sam gelding whose owned by Woody Hoblitzell
and trained by Bruce Aldrich, Sr.
Ryan’s victory with And We Danced resulted with an overland
trip from the half. Ryan moved the 5-year-old I Am A Fool gelding second
over behind the parked Off Lika Promdress (Austin Siegelman) as the timer
flashed :58.4 but luck was in Ryan’s corner as Off Lika Prombress carried
him all the way to the top of the lane. As they headed for home And We
Danced paced by his cover and then held late charging AllAmerican Master (Greg
Merton) at bay for a 2:01.2 victory.
Owned by Richard Policastro and trained by Anthony
Regina, And We Danced returned $108.50, $27.00 and $9.20 across the board
and coupled with Allamerican Master , second choice at 2-1, the 5-1
exacta paid $541.00.
At days end Mighty M bettors, both on and off track, wagered
a total of $700,111 on the Wednesday card.
