It wasn’t in his plans to race at Monticello Raceway on Thursday, July 30, but Jordan Stratton made an exception that day and hustled to the Catskill Mountain oval to just to compete in the track’s Munich Mile, the race for drivers of German descent, which was then seventh leg of the 'Mighty M’s year-long Heritage Drivers Series.

The trip was worthwhile when the 22-year-old reinsman won the event with West Coast Bad Boy in a time of 1:59:2

Stratton, who has German blood on his mothers side, hustled up from qualifying races at the Meadowlands just to race in the Munich Mile.

“John (Manzi) asked me if I’d drive in the race and there was no way I was going to tell him no,” Stratton said. “It was my only mount (at Monticello) and even though I had to rush from the Meadowlands to get to Monticello on time to drive it was something I had to do.”

Stratton, last years driving champ at the Mighty M had the betting favourite in West Coast Bad Boy and he drove him like he was the best.

After getting circled in the first turn by Stobie Two and Bruce Aldrich, Jr., Stratton re-took the lead with West Coast Bad Boy and they opened two lengths on the field in a :28:2 first quarter. Once safely on top, West Coast Bad Boy never had anxious moment and the four-year-old altered son of Badlands Hanover cruised to an easy two-length victory. Longshot Cartel Hanover rallied to be second for Jimmy Clouser while Kevin Hough and Fast Falcon picked up the show dough.

With his victory, Stratton earned a berth in the Heritage Series final, the All-America Cup, which will be presented in early October. That race will feature all eight winners of the ethnic series preliminary legs.

Only one Heritage Series event remains that being the Godfather Pace, for drivers of Italian extraction, which is slated for August 26, the date of Christopher Columbus’ birthday.

(Monticello)