On Monday, September 30, Monticello Raceway hosted four $45,000 finals of the Excelsior Series for two-year-old pacers and trotters. Arguably, the most impressive was the victory turned in by Spreester, who easily defeated seven other New York-bred pacing fillies by four lengths in 1:57.4.
Driver Jim Morrill Jr. was in the sulky when Spreester, trained by Paul Zabielski, started from Post 7. The pair left strong and made the front before the quarter mile timer flashed in :29.1.
Once on the lead, Morrill and Spreester remained unchallenged. The daughter of American Ideal set fractions of :59 and 1:28:2 before pacing to victory over Barbuda Babe and Jimmy Meittinis. Carlota Blue Chip was third for Joe Bongiorno.
“We bred her and we’re so proud of her,” Kimberly Zabielski said in the winner’s circle afterward. “She’s our first sires stakes winner.”
Spreester paid $3.80 for the Win.
In the colt division, pilot Jason Bartlett and Natural Leda got home first in a 1:57.2 mile. The win came off a pocket trip. Cabbies Delight held on for second and Hands Off Frank (Jordan Stratton) finished third. Owned by Deanna Frost, Rick Phillips and John Fielding, Natural Leda returned a $16.00 Win payoff.
John Stark Jr. guided Royal Max to his fourth win in his last five starts when they easily captured the freshmen colt trotting division. They turned back Uproar (Chris Lems) in the 2:01.1 mile. Dan Daley and Commissioner Daley finished third. Royal Max, who is a son of RC Royalty, is owned by Ed Smith, Crawford Farms, Jim Giannuzzi and Dave Smith. He paid $3.60 for the Win.
The $45,000 filly final went to Ski To The Max (Gates Brunet) in 2:02.4 over Trish (Jim Meititnis) and Brookside Lily (Aaron Byron). Ski To The Max is co- owned by Ted Gewertz, Debbie Brunet and Jean Brunet. She paid $3.60 for the Win.
(With files from Monticello)