Unusually warm weather in the southern Catskill Mountains of New York on the afternoon of Monday, January 18 nearly jeopardized the entire race card at Monticello Raceway, which included the track's yearly tribute to the memory of the great civil rights leader, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
The warm weather caused wet spots and a discoloured racing surface, but after the track crew finished scraping the oval, the afternoon card was a 'go.'
And nobody was more thrilled that the card went forward than George Polk, Jr. who steered Anna Sage to a 2:03 victory in the 10th annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Pace, an event which featured the talents of African-American drivers.
Figuring that he had the best horse on paper, Polk sent Anna Sage to the lead from Post 7. The duo gained command on the first turn and led the field by the quarter in a soft :30.3.
Unchallenged at the half in a 1:03 clocking made those that wagered on Anna Sage fairly confident at that point. But trouble loomed after Orlando Green moved Cannae Sandra out to challenge and they charged at the leader as the field rounded the clubhouse turn for the second time. Green’s pacer ranged alongside Anna Sage and as they passed the third stanza in 1:33. At that point, Dennis Watson, with Roll The Di, rallied three-wide, and when the trio of pacers rounded the final turn they were heads apart.
As the field straightened for home, Polk urged his mare, and Anna Sage opened up daylight on her challengers and cruised home an easy two and a half-length winner over Roll The Di. Third place went to Role Reversal and driver George Newell, Jr. who enjoyed a covered two-hole trip the entire way.
Deadlysatisfaction (driven by General Washington) was fourth and Cannae Sandra faded to finish fifth.
When a happy George Polk, Jr. was greeted in the winners circle by Anna Sage’s owners, he was presented a trophy and the mare received a blanket.
“I’ve raced in the last four of Monticello Raceway’s Dr. King Paces and finished third two years ago, but today I finally broke my maiden (in the event). Man, I’m thrilled,” Polk said.
Asked if he thought he was a winner when the field passed the three quarter pole, Polk answered, “I was a little worried at that point, especially when Orlando (Green with Cannae Sandra) and Dennis (Watson with Roll The Di) made a charge at us. But when we headed for home and I asked my mare for more she responded; and at that point I felt confident we were gonna (sic) win it.”
Polk wasn’t the only happy person when he returned to the winners circle. Co-owner Anthony Mazzeo had a big smile on his face as he had his picture taken and said to his partners, “Polk drove her like a champ.”
It was Anna Sage’s fourth win in her last five starts and first triumph of the 2010 season.
Owned by Anthony Mazzeo, James Tumia and Peter Basta, Anna Sage returned $8.10 on a winning wager. The 7-6-8 trifecta returned $2,025.00.
(With files from Monticello)