Scottish Cross trotted to a new track record for older trotting mares at Monticello Raceway on Wednesday, September 24.
Driver Mike Merton guided the nine-year-old daughter of Angus Hall to a 1:56.4 triumph. The clocking erased the former standard of 1:57 which was co-held by Arent I Hanover and Mymomsablizzard (both of which were recorded last year).
The mile marked the second time in just one week that a Monticello track record was lowered. On September 17, Bruce Aldrich Jr. drove On The Podium to a 1:56.2 victory, which was a new standard for older trotting geldings. In all, nine new track-record clockings have taken place during Monticello’s 2014 season.
Scottish Cross came to the ‘Mighty M’ three weeks ago from Canada with trainer Carmen Auciello where she had been racing splendidly in claiming races. Mike Merton picked up the catch-drive behind the lass, and in her first Monticello start (September 10) Scottish Cross was victorious in 1:58 while racing against $10, 000 claimers (she with a $12,000 claiming-allowance tag).
A move up to the $15,000 claiming ranks the following week – she raced for $18,750 with her allowance – resulted in a third-place finish behind On The Podium’s 1:56.2 track record. But yesterday (Sept. 24), back down and with a $12,500 claiming tag, Merton let Scottish Cross air-out as they trotted to a nine-length track-record victory over Bertos Angel and Jim Taggart Jr.
“She was pretty handy,” Merton said of Scottish Cross, who raced on the front-end from the get go. “I was just sitting on her as we passed the half (in :57.4) and we were just a length in front at that point, but as we headed up the backside I asked her a bit and we began to open daylight and the farther we went the more of a lead we had.”
At the wire, Scottish Cross was nine lengths in front of runner-up Bertos Angel. Sir Siro (Jim Marohn Jr.) finished third.
However – as famous newscaster Paul Harvey often said – ‘now for the rest of the story.’ Trainer Bob Lounsbury’s patron, Philip Schultz, plunked down $12,000 and they took her from her previous owners, Denarben Stables and Rocco Auciello.
Sent off as the betting favourite in the race, Scottish Cross won for the 12th time this year and returned a $3.20 win payoff.
(Monticello)