Can Jimmy Marohn, Jr. be a repeat winner, or will one of the McDermott brothers take home the trophy in Monticello Raceway’s 10th annual St. Paddy Pace? The answer to that query will be known after the sixth race is completed at Monticello Raceway on St. Patrick’s Day, Wednesday, March 17.
Eight talented reinsmen, five of which already have won a St Paddy Pace, will do battle in what appears to be a very competitive contest. The St. Paddy's Day Pace is a race for drivers of Irish heritage
John Gilmour, who won the 2002 edition with a pacer with the unlikely name of Irish Lad, gets to mount behind the morning line favourite, Gemini John, who’ll leave from Post 4.
Marohn, Jr., last year’s winner, is the defending champion and has drawn 3-1 shot Top Flite Rocket and the pole position, to boot.
Kevin McDermott, a leading trainer at the Meadowlands will take some time away from daily chores to jump up behind 7-2 shot Cagey Cole, who will start from Post 2.
Kevin’s older brother, John, who said — obviously with tongue in cheek — that he wants to beat Kevin "real bad" however, may have his work cut out for him because he drew the number seven horse, Hardcore, who is winless in five starts this year. But to John’s defence, the pacer did win 11 races last season; the fastest a 1:56:1 clocking at Maywood Park.
Two other pilots who’ll be looking to be the first under the wire include past St. Paddy Pace winners Mike Doherty and Jimmy Marohn. The former drew 10-1 Call Me Biscuit from Post 8, while the latter will handle 12-1 rated Flee Shark from Post 6.
The field is rounded out with Gary Messenger and 4-1 Christopher Bliss from Post 5, and Curtis Carey -- a transplanted mid-westerner and full-blooded Irishman -- who’ll drive Bolero Artifice when they leave from the three-hole.
The St. Paddy Pace is the third leg of the 'Mighty M’s Heritage Drivers Series 2010. The next event in the Heritage Drivers Series is the ‘Race for the Matzohs’ the 12th annual Passover Pace on Monday, April 5.
First-race post time for the St Patrick’s Day’s card is at the usual 12:50 p.m.
(With files from Monticello)