Gaelic And Garlic equaled the Monticello Raceway track record for three-year-old trotting geldings with a 1:57.1 triumph for driver Jimmy Morrill, Jr. in the first $83,922 division of the New York Sire Stakes for sophomore trotting colts and geldings on Monday afternoon, August 6.
The victory equaled the mark established by Green Day and Cat Manzi back on June 25, 2007.
A second $83,922 split saw longshot Mado Dream keep favored Coraggioso (Phil Fluet) at bay the entire mile and go on to a 1:57.2 triumph for driver Jeff Gregory.
In what could possibly have been two of the biggest individual New York Sire Stakes purse races at the Mighty M double oval, locally owned and trained, Gaelic and Garlic emerged as the story of the afternoon. Masterly driven by Morrill, Gaelic And Garlic left hard from the pole position and carried Trouble and driver Andy Miller to the quarter before relinquishing the lead as the timer flashed :28.1. Content to let sit a tight second Morrill allowed Trouble to show the way by the half in :57.1, and the order remained the same as the two leaders trotted by the third stanza in 1:27.
Although DWs NY Yank and driver Jeff Gregory closed ground on the leaders on the final turn they were never a threat to win. The race then ensued when the two leaders came off the final turn. Morrill moved Gaelic And Garlic out to challenge as they straightened for home and the altered son of Credit Winner-La Tapatia battled Trouble to the finish to score a head triumph and notch his fourth win of the season.
“He’s been good all year...just unlucky,“ driver Jimmy Morrill, Jr. told co-owner Bernie White, who was on hand for the blanket presentation.”He (Gaelic And Garlic) might be just a notch below the best but he keeps getting better every week.”
To say that White was joyous would have been an understatement. “He’s a home-bred, raised on the good green grass at Tamarack Manor (his farm) in Pine Bush, N.Y., “White chirped. “ When the mare dropped a colt my partner, Tony Statuto, and I named him Gaelic And Garlic. We felt it was a great name since I am Irish and Tony is Italian.”
Trained by Ed Hart, Gaelic And Garlic paid $5.40 for win.
Although the pre-race story-line was all about the prowess of Coraggioso that colt had to take a backseat to a surprising longshot by the name of Mado Dream, driven confidently by Jeff Gregory. Gregory sent Mado Dream to the front as Coraggioso floated out looking for the lead. Gregory had a different idea so driver Phil Fluet found a spot along the pylons fifth place. Mado Dream took the field by the half :58.3 and Gregory remained undaunted as he and Mado Dream rebuffed a few challenges from Caroggiosio making Fluet take back along the pylons each time. In the lane Fluet tried to move on the leader one final time but to no avail as Mado Dream trotted off to a two length victory in a time of 1:57.2.
“This is the first time I drove him but he’s a nice little horse and he’s got as big motor,” Gregory said of Mado Dream as he was joined in the winner’s circle by Anna Lorentzon, caretaker of the winner and sister of the colt’s trainer, Anette Lorentzon.
As the pair was leaving the winners circle to go back to the paddock someone shouted to Lorentzon asking why the fans didn’t bet on her trotter. She turned and answered quickly, obviously with tongue I cheek as she spouted “because they’re stupid”, which caused the fan who yelled the question to burst out laughing.
Owned by Aci Stuteri Ab the altered son of Taurus Dream – Madeleine lt paid a whopping $40.80 for win.
Also on the card were four $12,700 divisions of the Excelsior Series for three-year-old trotting colts and geldings. Gregory won a split with Joey Chestnut in 2:00.2; Morrill also copped one with Barnegat Lane in 1:59.1, and Sam Schillaci scored behind Macksmith also in 1:59.1. A fourth division went to Scorcher Hall who was driven by Howard Parker.
(Monticello)