Leading driver Mike Merton padded his lead over his contemporaries by winning five races on Monday at Monticello Raceway.
Merton started the five-bagger in Race 3 aboard Flight of The Kiwi, who benefited from a pocket trip behind pace setter Bob N Tony in 2:02.1 to earn his fourth win of the year for trainer Owen Eiler, Jr. Merton used the same strategy with Too Much Sun, who overtook Sweet Ginger to win by two lengths in 1:56, earning a season time badge. Merton’s third consecutive win was with the Ralph Silvestri III trained Smartys Filly, who started from Post 3 and took the overland route to win by two lengths in 1:56.2.