It was Mike Merton’s Turn Today

January 25, 2024

On a foggy, sloppy afternoon Mike Merton wasted no time in getting on the board on his way to nabbing 4 wins on the race card. He scored in the first race aboard Alamite in 2:00.3 – $3.40, he would also score with Star Island 1:59 – $10.40, Always Ava 2:02.3 – $19.00 and finished the day with the Monica Erikson trained Wind Blast 1:58.3 – $2.70.

The Open Trot was a short 5 horse field from the beginning, then Henry Iam Iam was a late scratch, Alan Schwartz left from post position 2 and set the tempo throughout, the pack was in single file order until they hit the 5/8 marker when Ackles Hanover (Devaux), coming off 2 race win streak was the first to pull, Raceace held the lead until midway through the stretch when the 11-1 Patrick Hanover ruined his parade to get up for the win over Raceace in 2:01.2 $22.80, Chip Chip Conway finished 3^rd (Taggart Jr.)

Bruce Aldrich Jr. had a driving double, one of the wins came with Come Zoom With Me $3.90 who made it 2 in a row for longtime Monticello Raceway patron Gary Haas of Bloomingburg, NY.