Atta Boy Dan was making his second start of the year after two impressive winning qualifiers and a solid performance last week. He went to post on Tuesday (May 11) in the Monticello Raceway Open Pace as the 6/5 favourite and scored in 1:55.3 over a field of seven with Brandon Parker in the bike.
Driver Cory Stratton and Carters Caper cut the mile as Chantepleure, leaving from post 5, was parked past the quarter in :27.3, and remained parked the entire mile. First to move approaching the half :56.4 was Certified Ideal. Brandon Parker, sensing that Chantepleure was starting to tire and clog the outer flow, popped out of the two-hole as Certified Ideal and Camwood were forced wide due to the tiring Chantepleure by three-quarters in 1:26.1. At this point Atta Boy Dan started to scoot away from the pack and won by four lengths in 1:55.3. Finishing second was KJ Erich and winner of last weeks Open, Camwood, was third.
The recently minted millionaire Atta Boy Dan sports an impressive resume. The rugged warrior, a 12-year-old Western Terror gelding, has a lifetime mark of 1:48.4 taken at the age of five at Pocono Downs. With today’s win, his career earnings are in excess of $1,010,000. He paid $4.50 to win.
Also on the card, Cory Stratton enjoyed a driving triple and James Taggart Jr. drove two winners.
(Monticello Raceway)