Wednesday, December 17 Recap

December 17, 2025

The afternoons 10 Race card featured the Open 1 and Open 2 Trot. The first event on the program was the Open 2, which was a 7-horse field that saw My Secret Ability (T. Merton) cut the mile until the top of the lane when the pocket sitting Dover Glide set aim on the leader and won in 1:59.4 – $19.08, the winner is Owned – Trained and Driven by Daniel Harvey.  My Secret Ability hung on for second with Chip Chip Conway (J. Taggart Jr) getting up for third.

The Open 1 was another 7-horse field that saw the high steppin Promise For Life (R. Cushing) cut the mile, Doo Wop Kid (M Merton) mounted his first over challenge at the half and gained the lead at the top of the stretch to go on and score in 1:58.1 – $6.88, finishing second was The Last Chapter who is now in the Cory Stratton Barn with the retirement of all around Good Guy Ed Hart.

Making his first start at Monticello since he competed in the NYSS 8 years ago was the Warhorse, Ostro Hanover. He was an $11,000 yearling purchase for the son of Betterbecheddar, in his career he has amassed lifetime earnings of $712,000 with 33 wins. Today from the rail, he got a good trip from driver Bryan Quevedo and scored in 1:56.4 – $25.64, Paul Blumenfeld trains the 10-year-old gelding.

Brue Aldrich Jr. and Ron Cushing each scored driving doubles.