Sinbad Scores In The Au Revoir

It was a like spring in the Southern Catskills of New York on New Year’s Eve and 14-year-old Sinbad raced more like a three-year-old when the altered son of Falcon Seelster sailed to an incredible 1:58:4 triumph

in Monticello Raceway’s Au Revoir - a race restricted to 14-year-olds.

Jimmy Marohn, Jr. was little more than a passenger after he gunned Sinbad to the lead, and once in front the “old timer” certainly appeared to enjoy what he was doing.

Sinbad, with his ears up and tail flying in the wind, paced through fractions of :29:1; 1:00 and 1:29:3 and then kicked in a :29:1 final stanza en route to turning back Jaccka Seelster N and driver Rob Dining.

“He did it all on his own and he seemed to be loving every minute of it,” Marohn said in the winner’s circle referring to Sinbad’s easy five-length victory. “It was quite a good mile for a 14-year-old, don’t you think?”

Jaccka Seelster, another off-spring of Falcon Seelster and in from Maine for the race, was the first to challenge as the short five –horse field came headed up the backstretch the second time around. But he never could catch Sinbad as Marohn gave the veteran $550,000 career winner his head and they opened up daylight and cruised to an easy victory.

Jaccka Seelster N did finish second and Mr Touring, who was shadowing Sinbad until the three quarters, faded and finished third for Brandon Simpson.

Owner- trainer Ned Urbanski was also on hand and grinning from ear to ear. In the winner’s circle when asked how he felt he quickly replied, “Hey I’m glad we he won, but I’m surely sorry he can’t race anymore. If he could, we’d probably move him up in class in his next start.”

Asked what will happen now with Sinbad, Urbanski said that he’s going to Delaware to Sandy Crissman’s farm and live a life of leisure.

Word had it, too, that others would meet the same fate, and have a good home for the rest of their lives.

In the co-feature that afternoon the 15-race win streak of Northern Chief came to an end when Bruce Aldrich, Jr. hustled JK Hooty up in the final strides to collar Northern Chief by just a nose in a time of 1:59:1.

Mike Merton, who drove Northern Chief took the loss in stride.

“We’ve got nothing to be ashamed of. We came a last half in :59:1 and we got just got beat,” said Merton. “Hey, you can’t win’em all.”

After Bruce Aldrich, Jr. and JK Hooty had their picture taken in the winner’s circle someone in the crowd yelled “How do you feel stopping Northern Chief’s win streak?”, to which Aldrich replied “I don’t feel good about it. The old guy always gives his best…. But that’s racing”

(Monticello Raceway)