Leading driver Mike Merton padded his lead over his contemporaries by winning five races on Monday at Monticello Raceway.
Merton started the five-bagger in Race 3 aboard Flight of The Kiwi, who benefited from a pocket trip behind pace setter Bob N Tony in 2:02.1 to earn his fourth win of the year for trainer Owen Eiler, Jr. Merton used the same strategy with Too Much Sun, who overtook Sweet Ginger to win by two lengths in 1:56, earning a season time badge. Merton’s third consecutive win was with the Ralph Silvestri III trained Smartys Filly, who started from Post 3 and took the overland route to win by two lengths in 1:56.2.
Six Bax, starting from the rail, scored in a wire-to-wire win over Windsun Hugo in 1:59.3. The 12-year-old son of Kadabra is trained by Bob Lounsbury. The final win of the afternoon was with Machin Marley, who romped in a five-length victory in 1:56.4 to earn his first win of the year for trainer John Mungillo.
Dont Chip Me, driven by Bruce Aldrich, Jr., won the $8,400 Fillies and Mares open in 1:56.1. The four-year-old mare by Hypnotic Blue Chip is trained by John Hallett. The duo of Gary Messenger and Jim Taggart, Jr. teamed up for two winners on the afternoon - ER Betty and Speed Ball Swagger.
Mike Merton has a commanding lead over his rivals for leading dash winner drivers, atop of the leader board with 139 wins. Jim Taggart, Jr. has 114 and Bruce Aldrich, Jr. is third with 107. On the training side, Maine native Bo Sowers is leading with 69 wins, Gary Messenger has 53 and rounding out the top five is Laura Perino with 35 winners hailing from her barn.
(Monticello Raceway)