On Monday the mares did their thing in Monticello Raceway’s Name Your Claiming Price Series and on Wednesday, February 6 three divisions of horses and geldings did battle in their divisions with Sams Fortune, Thomas John N and Haroun Hanover each emerging victorious in their respective divisions.
The first of the three to be victorious was the Ed Hall-owned Sams Fortune in the second race when the five-year-old Cams Fortune gelding, who was six lengths back at the three-quarters, rallied to a one length triumph over 11-1 shot Eyesbold (Peter Lutman III) in a 1:59.3 clocking for driver Jimmy Marohn Jr.
Trained by Danny Gill, Sams Fortune paid $2.80 to win.
The Gill-Marohn connection clicked again in the 11th race when Jimmy Jr. guided the Ed and James Hall–owned Bettors Delight gelding Haroun Hanover to a 1:58.1 triumph over No Free Parking, handled by Bruce Aldrich Jr. He paid $3 to win.
The other Name You Claiming Price Series winner was Thomas John N, driven by Mike Simons. They used the front-end route and held on by a nose over the Pat Beeler-driven Nutmegs Taxi in a time of 1:59.2.
The 11-year-old New Zealand-bred gelding is owned and trained by Gail Wrubel. The altered son of Live Or Die paid $6.60 to win.
The pacers in each of the three events were in for a $4,000 price tag. Next Wednesday owners will have a option to race back for that price or move up to a $5,000 claiming tag. Of course, if any do they’ll draw outside the $4,000 claiming entries.
(With files from Monticello Raceway)