Three divisions of two-year-old trotting colts and geldings were featured on the Thursday, October 1 card at Monticello Raceway. Ultimate Athlete’s 2:03:2 clocking turned out to be the fastest of the three.
Aruba Vacation won his division in 2:03:4 and Pembroke Falcoon was victorious in the non-betting split in 2:04:2 .
John Stark, Jr. drove Ultimate Athlete to a wire to-wire, one-length triumph over Darting Dan and Kyle DiBenedetto. The Malabar Man--Classical Speed colt scored his second victory of the season. Stark trains and also co-owns Ultimate Athlete with Edmund Smith and James Giannuzzi.
Stephane Bouchard was in the sulky behind Aruba Vacation. He sent the altered son of Dream Vacation--Dixie Hit to the lead from Post 6 and they raced unchallenged the entire mile. The winning margin of victory was five lengths ahead of Captain Sully (driven by Jordan Stratton). Trained by Dam Daley for the Howard Stables, Richard Lombardo and Ann-Mari Daley, Aruba Vacation won his second race of the year equally his previous best.
Zeke Parker guided Bill Varney’s Pembroke Falcoon to a head victory in a time of 2:04:2 over a fast-closing Blueridge Bob Cat (Angus MacDonald) in the non-wagering contest. The winner, who scored his second triumph in six lifetime starts, is a son of Big Z Crown-Pembroke Glide.
(With files from Monticello)