After two unsuccessful tries earlier this month in the Open, the third time was the charm as P H Kenny won the $7,700 Open Pace at Monticello Raceway in 1:54 on Tuesday, Aug. 31.
Sammy B Happy (Joe Chindano Jr.) rushed to the lead as the gate left, as did a rammy Camwood (Michael Merton), starting from post seven. Sammy B Happy briefly had the lead before the quarter-mile stanza in :27.4, but Cory Stratton, aboard P H Kenny, quickly pulled from the two-hole and took the lead past the quarter then took the pack through fractions of :56.2 and 1:25.2. At this point, Camwood began to tire, and P H Kenny kept the field at bay with a one-length advantage. Stratton continued to urge P H Kenny down the lane to win by a length in 1:54, with a :28.3 last quarter. Sammy B Happy finished second, followed by KJ Erich (Jim Taggart Jr.). Camwood, last week’s Open winner, was parked the entire mile and finished in fourth.
P H Kenny is trained by Veronica Merton. The nine-year-old gelded son of Lis Mara notched his fourth win of the 2021 season. He is owned by Cinderella Stables of Ronkonkoma, New York.
Merton enjoyed a training double on the afternoon as Metro Glide won the eighth race in 1:56.2 with John Desimone in the sulky.
(With files from Monticello Raceway)