Bruce Aldrich wins 5 – Mike Merton wins 3 at Monticello Raceway
March 6, 2020
By: Shawn Wiles
Photo Credit: Geri Schwarz
Monticello, NY – Leading Monticello Raceway dash winner driver Bruce Aldrich Jr. padded his lead with 5 wins on the afternoon Thursday March 5 at Monticello Raceway, Mike Merton also drove 3 winners on the card. Aldrich won 3 consecutive races in the beginning of the card, the first win came aboard Western Bay Bay 1:58.4 – $3.60 in race 2 for trainer Robert Lounsbury, it was the 3rd seasonal win for the 4-year-old Art Official gelding in 9 starts, Aldrich scored with Lucky Leonard in 2:00, Bruce was content to sit the pocket while Giddyallyougot (Mike Merton) cut the mile his best winning time in 2 years for trainer Laura Perino and returned a healthy $40.80 win pari mutual. Someboysomewhere would account for win # 3, trained by the 3rd leading trainer on the grounds Jim Doherty Jr. the son of Somebeachsomewhere scored a 5 length romp in 2:00 for his first win of the 2020 season.
The next win came aboard the favorite Regil Tiger, Aldrich worked hard for this win as the co-favorite Drive Em Cowboy (Jim Taggart Jr.) started to skip away from the field down the backside the second time, Aldrich did some serious urging to get the win with the 14-year-old Gelding in 1:58. John Dally would account for Aldrich’s 5th win of the afternoon for trainer David Dziengiel. It marked the 5th time this season that Aldrich won 4 or more races on the same day.
Mike Merton who recently returned back in the bike after a prolonged absence due to a racing accident, brushed off the dust and won 3 races with Hot Seat – 1:59.2 – $2.80, Catcha Lefty A 1:57.3 – $2.70 and Upfront Countryboy 1:58 – $3.20
$724,787 was wagered on the 10 race card, for an average handle per race of $72,478
Live racing resumes Monday with a 12:50 Post Time
