Not a stranger to multiple wins on a race card Jimmy Morrill Jr. owned the afternoon at Monticello Raceway after posting four wins on the card, three of which were New York Sire Stakes events.
In the first $29,850 Sire Stakes division of the day, last year’s Night of Champions Two-Year-Old Colt Pace winner Cartoon Daddy left strong for the lead. He then relinquished the front past the opening quarter in :28.3 to A Bettor Hat, who took them past the half in 57:2. Sitting third at the five-eighths marker, Jason Bartlett Jr. and Americanprimetime were on the move and charging. A spirited stretch drive ensued as Americanprimetime edged A Bettor Hat in 1:54.2 by a scant neck. Trained by Rick Dane Jr. for owners Rock & Roll Stables.
J Eagle Feather scored a wire-to-wire win in the second division over the pocket sitting Soto and Lone Survivor in 1:54.3, giving Morrill his second win of the young afternoon. The son of Bettors Delight is trained by Linda Toscano. His win was his second consecutive win in NYSS competition.
In the third division, Kid Rock and National Seelster blasted off the gate. National Seelster wrestled control at the quarter mile and led the rest of the way. K Rock sat in the garden spot the entire mile, within perfect striking distance heading in the stretch. He made a move to the passing lane, but it was to no avail. National Seelster held on by a neck in 1:54.4. The son of Bettors Delight was driven by Morrill for trainer Chris Ryder.
The seven-horse field raced in post-position order in the fourth division until just past the half when the outer tier started to unfold. Scott Zeron pulled Artistic Major first over and was at the back of My Spirit Soars, but was never able to make up any ground as Jimmy Morrill Jr. won his 4th race of the afternoon in 1:54:1. After the race in the winner’s circle when congratulated on his fourth win of the afternoon, Jimmy said “I should have won the other Sire Stakes event also, I just got beat!”
The most impressive race of the day came in the last race, an Excelsior A division with John Butenschoen’s son of Art Major, Gold Coast Muscle. Leading at every call, he put a sleeper hold on the field with a pair of 28-second middle quarters, took them past the third station in 1:24.1 and won easily in the day's fastest mile -- 1:53, by open lengths.
Longtime N.Y. owner and patron of the sport Ken Jacobs, has two winners on the day.
In other action, Division A winners were Major Camby (James Marohn Jr. - 1:56:1), American Cross Road (Matt Kakaley – 1:56:1), Nobettorplacetobe (John Cummings Jr. - 1:54:4). The Excelsior B series winners were Simon Said (Jim Morrill Jr. - 1:56) and Tarport Andy (Jim Devaux - 1:57:2).
Monticello Raceway continues to have strong support from the betting public as $761,000 was wagered on the card for a $53,357 average per race.
(with files from Monticello)