Can Northern Chief overcome what some horsemen consider 'The Jinx?'
The jinx being media coverage regarding the pacer’s chances at a new Monticello Raceway record of 11 wins in a row. Northern Chief will look to turn the trick the afternoon of Wednesday, November 3.
Northern Chief’s regular driver, Mike Merton, certainly doesn’t concur with the jinx theory, since after the pair's last win (on October 27) he said, “We tied it (the record) today and hopefully we’ll break it next week.”
The duo will be starting from Post 7 in the 12th and final race on Monticello's Wednesday program of live racing.
“He (Northern Chief) has been at the top of his game for months now, and he did win his last two starts from the eight-hole, so I’m hoping with a little racing luck we can do it again from the seven hole,” Merton said.
Northern Chief is a seven-year-old Apaches Fame gelding that is owned by Bob Merton, Jr. and Al DeSimone. When the Gary Messenger-trained performer won his 10th consecutive race over the Monticello oval, he tied the track record which had been first established in 2008 by Hogies Cam. The record was equalled earlier this year by Mr Thinker.
Northern Chief has been rated at morning line odds of 5-2 for his Wednesday tilt.
Post time for the 12-race card is 12:25 p.m.
The tentative post time for Race 12 is 4:00 p.m.
(With files from Monticello)