Monticello, NY --- The cream of the freshmen and sophomore pacers and trotters on the NYSS County Fair circuit convened at Monticello Raceway on Tuesday afternoon (Sept. 2). Eight $10,000 divisions were held and the champions were crowned in each division.
“It was an enjoyable day of racing, watching the youngsters go head to head in each of their divisions,” noted Eric Warner, the track's director of racing. “And with limited amount of charted lines on many of the entrants, still wagering on the card was good.”
Driving Me Lindy and Truman Gale kicked off the program copping the event for 3-year-old trotting fillies, winning by nine lengths in 2:00.2 for trainer Andy Gardner. Owned by Michael Eulo, it marked the Crazed filly’s 10th triumph and raised her seasonal bankroll to $33,484.
The 2-year-old totting filly final ended in a romp for Ron’s Coren when Fern Paquet Jr. guided the Cash Hall miss to a 2:04 victory. She’s trained by Jessica Okusko for owner Ronald La Clair.
The pacing final for freshman fillies saw Kruella score her ninth seasonal triumph when Kirk Desmond used the front-end route to score a victory in a time of 1:59.2 for trainer Joe Robbins Jr. The daughter of American Ideal, co-owned by her trainer and Bonnie Kowalcyk, won for the ninth time in 10 lifetime starts.
Inside The Glass, locally owned by Rosemarie Moore, recorded the fastest mile of the NYSS County Fairs finals when Larry Stalbaum sat back off a quick early pace and rallied late to win the 3-year-old pacing filly division in 1:57.3 for trainer Paul Moore.
The 3-year-old trotting colt final followed and saw Harold Smith’s Stirling Cadet romp to a 15 length triumph in 1:58.4 for driver Jimmy Devaux. The Conway Hall gelding scored his 11th victory and increased his seasonal bankroll ---all on the county fair circuit -- to $37,380.
Devaux also won the freshman colt and gelding pacing final with Harold Smith’s Adonis Bay in a time of 1:59.3. Although Smith drove his colts at the fairs, the 80-year-old accomplished horseman turned the lines over to the accomplished professional, Jimmy Devaux.
Another NY county fair stalwart, Doug Ackley, won the trotting final for 2-year-old colts and geldings with J A T O in 2:04.2 despite making a break before the start. The son of Big Apple Deli scored his ninth victory in 10 lifetime starts for owner-trainer Margaret Butler, who shares ownership with Amy Butler.
Larry Stalbaum scored his second victory in the NYSS County Fair finals when he guided Kings Maninblack to a 1:59 triumph in the event for sophomore colt and gelding pacers. The altered son of Riverboat King is trained by Joe Chindano, who co-owns with Gianfranco Pozzolini.
Perhaps overshadowed by the interesting card of county fair youngsters, Diamond Tiara moved back to tie Shortest Distance for the most races won in North America this year when Jimmy Taggart Jr. drove her to a 1:55.4 triumph, which was her 18th victory.
Also on the card, Shortest Distance was looking for win number 19, but she got collared at the wire by Rusty’s Flying (Fern Paquet Jr.) and had to settle for second money.