Morrill On Fire At Monticello

Published: June 29, 2015 08:56 pm EDT

Jim Morrill Jr. put on a driving clinic during Monday’s stakes-filled card of racing at Monticello Raceway.

The sulky sitter visited victory lane five times on the 13-race program, which featured a trio of rich NYSS divisions for two-year-old pacing colts and geldings.

Roll With Fred rallied to a 1:58.3 score in his $35,866 division for the duo of driver Brett Miller and trainer Joe Holloway. The son of Roll With Joe-Two Steppin Sally spent time on the lead before enjoying a ground-saving trip across the backstretch. He used a :29.1 closing quarter to win by a half-length margin over Carlos Danger. Third prize was earned by race favourite, Fine Diamond.

It was the first lifetime start for the youngster, who was a $135,000 purchase from last year’s Harrisburg Yearling Sale. The half-brother to Major Dancer (1:51.2 - $453,022) is owned by Val Dor Farms, Rojan Stable and Ted Gewertz.

Skip Jive was parked to the quarter pole in :29.1, but he eventually worked his way to the front and cruised to an easy win for driver Mark MacDonald. The Paul Kelley pupil threw down middle panels of :58.4 and 1:28.2 before scooting home in :28.4 en route to his win by 3-1/4 lengths over Fast N Victorious in 1:57.1. Endeavor was third.

The son of Rock N Roll Heaven-Dancinwiththestarz, who was sent off at 6-1, is a homebred owned by New York partners, W Springtime Racing Stb and Shannon Brott.

Joe Larry N Curly took the finale in front-stepping fashion for Jim Morrill, Jr. and trainer Mark Harder. Morrill hustled the son of Rolls With Joe-Lifes Image to the lead from Post 4 and after cutting fractions of :28.1, :59 and 1:28.3 the youngster used a :28-second kicker to win by four lengths over Red Roll in 1:56.3. Brigadoon rounded out the top three finishers.

Purchased for $18,000 from last year’s Lexington Select Yearling Sale, the colt is owned by Joseph Jannuzzelli, Dawn Colucci and Mark Harder.

Morrill’s earlier winners were White Rolls ($10.60/1:59.1), Zac And Forth ($6.10/1:59.4), Edom Up Blue Boy ($8.50/1:59.2) and Heres The Scoop ($8.90/1:58.4).

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