Atta Boy Dan was making his second start of the year after two impressive winning qualifiers and a solid performance last week. He went to post on Tuesday (May 11) in the Monticello Raceway Open Pace as the 6/5 favourite and scored in 1:55.3 over a field of seven with Brandon Parker in the bike.
Driver Cory Stratton and Carters Caper cut the mile as Chantepleure, leaving from post 5, was parked past the quarter in :27.3, and remained parked the entire mile. First to move approaching the half :56.4 was Certified Ideal. Brandon Parker, sensing that Chantepleure was starting to tire and clog the outer flow, popped out of the two-hole as Certified Ideal and Camwood were forced wide due to the tiring Chantepleure by three-quarters in 1:26.1. At this point Atta Boy Dan started to scoot away from the pack and won by four lengths in 1:55.3. Finishing second was KJ Erich and winner of last weeks Open, Camwood, was third.
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Geri Schwarz Photo
Monticello, NY - If the harness racing driver s colony at Monticello Raceway were a baseball team, they would be 20 games ahead of their nearest rival, on Thursday December 31, Mike Merton had his second Grand Slam in two days, and for the 3rd time this season.
Merton s batting average (UDRS) is .389.
Other drivers that had a Grand Slam this year at the Mighty M are Bruce Aldrich, Jim Taggart Jr, James Devaux and Cory Stratton.
Merton started off in the fourth inning, race four with a win aboard Dotted Line (2:00.3 - $7.00) next up was Baywood Shadow (2:00.2 - $6.30) who earned his seventh win of the COVID shortened season.
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