Far Better took home his seventh win in a row in open company on Tuesday, June 22 at Monticello Raceway.

It’s been a month and a half since he made his first start at the track on May 6, following a brief, fairly unlucky, stint at the Meadowlands. Since then, he has slowly ascended the ladder, starting in NW350PS company and gradually rising through the ranks until he made the Open.

Once driver Mike Merton got the front, he put a sleeper hold on the field and waltzed through fractions of :29, :58.3 1:27.2. There were some anxious moments as Far Better became a little rough gaited rounding the last turn, but he kept his composure to win by two lengths in 1:56.2 over Nox Vegas Bluechip. Hestons Lucky Chip was third. The son of Bettors Delight is trained by Nicholas Devita for owner Robert W Dieck of North Norwich, NY. The win gave Mike Merton four driving wins on the afternoon.

Also on the card, a pair of nice two-year-old pacing colts hailing from the Gary Messenger barn won their first start. KJ Unreal scored in 1:59.3 and KJ Hunter in 2:00. They are both owned by Scott Woogen, Brenda Messenger, and PW Shapiro.

Bo Sowers had a training double on the card.

(Monticello Raceway)