Greg Merton may do the bulk of his entertaining in the Catskills, but his act plays in the big city as well
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Though not a downstate regular, Merton had his name above Yonkers Raceway's marquee Tuesday night, winning his 3,000th career with the handy Undersky Torpedo.
Leaving from both position four in the $12,000 pacing opener, the odds-on favourite went to the house, winning by just over a length in a 2010 best 1:55.1. The eight-year-old Giant Skipper gelding is trained by Kirsten Proctor for co-owners Chad Kowal and Michael Howell.
"It's funny how things work," Merton said. "I had my son with me at Monticello today, and I finished second five times. It (3,000 wins) means a lot, because I know how much work went in it. Now I can concentrate on the next 3,000."
The 36-year-old Merton, a native of East Meadow, NY, has more than $11.5 million in earnings in a career that began in 1989.
Sagamore Hill Series On Saturday
Yonkers Raceway's $66,400 final of the Sagamore Hill Pacing Series for three and four-year-old colts and geldings is scheduled for Saturday night.
Woodstock Hanover (Stephane Bouchard – PP2), whose $253,993 in lifetime earnings towers over the competition, has been accorded the role of early favourite in the richest local race of the season to date. The finale goes as Race 10.
The four-year-old Bettors Delight gelding, who won twice in three prelim races, is trained by Aaron Lambert for co-owners Glenn Ellis and Ken Tucci.
Giddy Up Delight (Jason Bartlett - PP7) was a perfect 3-for-3 during the trials, but that did not impress the judges in the open draw finale. Mr. Rockford (Dan Dube - PP6), like Woodstock Hanover, won two of his three series legs.
Saturday night's card also includes five, $50,000 divisions in the third round of the George Morton Levy Memorial Pacing Series (races 5 through 9).
(Yonkers Raceway)