Bobs Alibi was moved three-deep on the final turn and rallied to win the $7,700 weekly pacing feature in 1:58:3 at Monticello Raceway on Tuesday afternoon, December 29. Newcomer Jamie Dunlap steered the winner for trainer Peter Stratton
With the stalwarts of this division, Southbound Trucker and Keystone Rideau on the sidelines the door was opened for a host of visiting pacers to gain the lion’s share of the offered purse.
Bobs Alibi, a hard-hitting five-year-old altered son of His Alibi in from Yonkers Raceway, had drawn the pole position, and driver Jamie Dunlap took advantage of his location and gave his pacer a perfect two-hole journey behind pacesetter DM Sundance (driven by Zeke Parker) until the final turn. Although, racing circumstances made Dunlap move off the pylons and wheel his pacer three-wide as they rounded the bend, but Bobs Alibi proved to be the best, as he wore down the leader and held off all challenges.
Bobs Alibi was a head winner over Jake Of Diamonds, another Yonkers Raceway import driven by Bruce Aldrich, Jr. DM Sundance, also up from the Hilltop oval, held on for the show dough.
Dunlap, who has been among the most preferred catch-drivers since coming here in late November, notched his 18th driving victory and was quick to praise the talents of his charge.
“This was the first time I sat behind him, but he is a nice animal and has shown he has a lot of pace,” Dunlap said.
“We were really in a good spot, but on the final turn Billy’s horse (DM Sundance) began to tire and Eckstrom (Jimmy Marohn) was in high gear two-deep, so I thought I’d follow him (around the turn). But when Eckstrom got eye-to-eye with DM Sundance he sulked and wouldn’t go by and I had no other choice than to move out from behind around him.”
(With files from Monticello)