Nevertroubletroubl had a stellar season 2009 season. The pacer was 24 times first or second with 12 wins and purses in excess of $77,000. And his prowess was rewarded by the local scribes with Older Pacer of the Year honours at Monticello Raceway.
On Wednesday, January 21 at Monticello Raceway, the five-year-old Pro Bono Best gelding picked up where he left off last year by winning his first start of the 2009 season, defeating the best pacers on the grounds in Monticello's weekly-featured winners/over pace
Mike Merton, who guided the pacer to all his triumphs at Monticello in '08, was again handed the lines by trainer Kevin Johnson.
In his first pari-mutuel start of the '09 campaign, Nevertroubletroubl started from the rail. Merton gave his mount a perfect pocket ride behind the even-money favourite Armbro Animate (driven by Jordan Stratton) who cut all the fractions.
At the top of the lane, Armbro Animate had two lengths on Nevertroubletroubl. Merton then angled Nevertroubletroubl to the passing lane, allowing his mount to ramble alongside the leader. The pair of horses raced eyeball-to-eyeball through the stretch, and in the finals strides Nevertroubletroubl got up for a head victory in 1:56:4.
“He’s really tough and knows how to win and he never ceases to amaze me,” Merton said of Nevertroubletroubl. “If he’s near the front-end at the three quarters the others better bring their best game because he’ll be coming for them in the stretch.”
Owned by Rebecca Williams of Monticello, New York, Nevertroubletroubl returned $19.80 for those who backed him to win.
(With files form Monticello)