The out-of-town invader Mickeymaksomespeed won his Monticello Raceway debut in the $7,700 Open Pace on Wednesday, Sept. 8 for trainer/driver Frederick Bourgault.
As the field of seven of the best pacers on the grounds left the gate, P H Kenny (Cory Stratton), last week’s Open winner, left strongly from post seven to get away third. Before the first stanza, Casies Believer, who got away second behind Mickeymaksomespeed, pulled the pocket to take the lead and fronted the field through fractions of :27.4 and :58.
P H Kenny came first-over before the half while Casies Believer continued to cut the mile, taking the pack to the three-quarters mark in 1:26.3. At this point, Mickeymaksomespeed was second, with driver Frederick Bourgault struggling to keep his mount in control.
Once cleared at the top of the stretch, he was full of pace and won by a half-length in 1:55.4. The fast-closing favourite, Camwood (Michael Merton), was second, followed by Burning Midnight (Bruce Aldrich Jr.). Pacesetter Casies Believer finished fourth.
The win was the sixth of the season in 14 starts for the four-year-old son of Mickey Hanover, who is owned by Michel Allard of Saint-Espirit, Que.
(With files from Monticello Raceway)