Racing Roundup: Stratton has a five-bagger at Monticello
February 16, 2010,from Harness Publicists across North America
Tuesday’s (Feb. 16) edition of Racing Roundup features results stories from Monticello Raceway, Dover Downs and The Meadows.
Stratton has a five-bagger at Monticello
Monticello, NY — Neither rain, nor snow, nor gloom of day could keep Jordan Stratton from winning five races on the Tuesday afternoon card at Monticello Raceway.
Jordan Stratton won five races on Tuesday at Monticello.
On an unpleasant day for both man and beast — not only was the weather uncompromising, but contending with the muddy racetrack was no easy job either. Still Stratton looked like “the Kid” who won the driving title here in 2008.
Driving only occasionally at the Mighty M thus far this year the 22-year-old youngster put on a driving clinic Tuesday, scoring four wins in the first five races and finishing the ominous afternoon with five victories.
Stratton began the day with three consecutive wins. His initial victory was a wire-to-wire, 2:00.4 effort with Mike D’Abbraccio’s Behind Enemy Lines in the first race and he then scored a 2:03 victory with Steiner Stock Farms’ Gateway Jet in the second. Stratton then won the third race with Michael Girouard and Melissa Lukason’s Western Pride, also in a time of 2:03.
Win number four was behind Ron Alexander and William Shattuck’s Christian Chapel N in a 2:00.1 clocking and it wasn’t until the 11th race that Stratton again visited the winner’s circle after he reined another Mike D’Abbraccio-owned steed, Gallant Guy N, to a 2:03.4 triumph.
“It was tough going out there today and I’m soaked but it was a good day for me just the same. I had won four races earlier this year but today is the first time this year that I won five on a single card — and I hope it won’t be my last,” Stratton related by cell phone while on his way to compete at Yonkers Raceway this evening.
Now with 52 wins on the year Stratton is moving up the national leaderboard where he is currently in 13th place.
— John Manzi
Gabrielles Girl wins $27,000 mares feature at Dover
Dover, DE — Gabrielles Girl, a winner of three previous distaff features, returned to the winner’s circle for the first time in 2010 to win the $27,000 Mares Open Handicap Pace on Tuesday at Dover Downs.
Fotowon photo
Gabrielles Girl edged Apache Dame by a head in the Mares Open Handicap Pace.
With meet-leading driver Corey Callahan at the controls, the Camotion-Cheryl’s Place 5-year-old had just enough to hold off a strong stretch challenge by Apache Dame and Ross Wolfenden for a 1:53 triumph. Tom Kelly, who led the Minnesota Twins to World Series titles, and Margaret Mancini own Gabrielles Girl, trained by Josh Green. She now has a win, second and two thirds in five races this year, earning $27,660 in purses. Boots Place closed well for Eric Goodell to finish third in front of last week’s winner Lofty Widget (Ron Pierce). The race ended a four-race win streak by Georgy Girl N.
Chris Sharpe’s Cosmo Madness, with Jim Morand driving, stepped out of the claiming ranks to score a 1:56.4 victory in a $16.500 4- and 5-year-old mares pace, edging Fox Valley Patina (Tony Morgan) at the wire. Charlene Polk conditions the Three Olives-No Sweets Please 5-year-old, a two-time winner this meet. Ill Sting The Best (Mike Cole) was a close-up third.
Ron Pierce pulled Shady Sabrina out of second on the final turn and quickly took the lead on the way to a second straight win in 1:54 to take the $18,500 pace for females. KDK Standardbreds and Golden Hour Stables own the 8-year-old daughter of Cam’s Dignity-Mymymysharona. Keystone Rhythm (Ross Wolfenden) was next. Boca Hanover (Frank Milby) was the show finisher. It was Pierce’s third win of the night.
— Marv Bachrad
Mystery Chase wins second straight at The Meadows Washington, PA — Mystery Chase survived a parked-out first quarter in a wicked :26.4 to capture his second straight race in Tuesday’s feature, the $25,000 Winners Over $10,000 Life/Preferred Handicap Pace, at The Meadows. After that demanding opening panel over a ‘good’ surface, Eric Ledford was able to give Mystery Chase a :29.1 breather in the second quarter. That was all the 5-year-old son of Real Artist-Search For Cam needed to fly home in :55.2 and score in 1:51.2 despite bearing out in the lane. The pocket-sitting Western Bay was second, a half length back, with Transcending third. Donnie Russell trains Mystery Chase, who now boasts $656,097 in career earnings, and owns with Edward Needle. Brett Miller drove four winners and Dave Palone three on the 15-race card. — Evan Pattak