This week at Monticello Raceway, Brandon Parker achieved a rare hat trick and swept all three of the weekly Open events.
On Monday (Feb. 21), Parker lit up the toteboard with the out-of-town Yonkers invader Shecandance N in the $6,900 Fillies and Mares Open Pace in a hard-fought battle, winning by a neck over Keene Olivia in 1:55.4. Dismissed by the betting public, Godinez Racing Stable's daughter of A Rocknroll Dance paid $43 to win. She is trained by Jose Godinez.
Tuesday’s $6,900 Open Pace saw Parker win with the best pacer on the grounds at the moment. Nui Ba Den N notched his third consecutive win in the Open class for trainer Chris Petrelli in 1:55.3, returning $6.70 to his backers. At the top of the stretch, Nui Ba Den N was seven lengths off the leader. He uncorked a :27.2 last quarter to seal the deal for the urging Parker. The New Zealand import is by Gotta Go Cullect and is owned by George P. Dremonas.
In the $6,900 Open Trot on Wednesday afternoon, James Devaux and Bank Guard cut the first three-quarters of the mile. Parker was the first to move past the half with the Godinez stable's Crazycat, who slowly glided to the front end and handily put away the rest of the field in an easy three-length win in 2:00.1. Makin Trouble K (Bruce Aldrich Jr.) was second, followed by Cinnamon Stick (Greg Merton). Crazycat earned his third win of the season and paid $4.30 as the odds-on favourite.
Two ageless campaigners joined forces and visited the winner’s circle in the $6,900 Open II Trot on Wednesday. Kyle Dibenedetto and 11-year-old gelding Warrawee Preferred ($4) were wire-to-wire winners in 2:01. Since joining the barn of Marianna Monaco, Warrawee Preferred has had three wins in four starts and now boasts 55 victories lifetime. Towards the tail end of 2021, Dibenedetto began to enjoy a resurgence and began to rack up more and more wins, with the trend continuing into this year. He’s now neck and neck with Jim Taggart Jr. for top dash honours.
(With files from Monticello Raceway)