by Tom Hicks

The 2013 year-to-date Monte America statistics (as prepared by the USTA’s David Carr) show Ray Schnittker leading in all categories with his veteran $800,000-plus career winning trotter Flex The Muscle.

The pair won the Hambletonian Monte event at the Meadowlands to secure the top spots. This team has posted two other victories and a third in five starts.

Leading Horses: (earnings, wins)
1. Flex The Muscle, $19,750, 3
2. Chinese Cuisine, $12,500, 1
3. Muscolo, $5,724, 0
4. Sundance Bayama, $5,600, 1
5. Flowing James, $5,586, 0

Leading Riders: (earnings, wins, UDR)
1. Ray Schnittker, $19,730, 3, .667
2. Tina Duer, $12,500, 1, .556
3. Karen Isbell, $7,250, 1, .630
4. Jenny Melander, $6,020, 0, .093
5. Emma Pettersson, $5,586, 0, .296

Leading Trainers: (earnings, wins)
1. Ray Schnittker, $19,750, 3
2. Brett Biddle, $11,300, 1
3. Paul Kelley, $5,724, 0
4. Henrik Lundell, $5,600, 1
5. Mark Harder, $5,586, 0

Congrats to all the leaders and to all participants, owners and sponsors. Best of racing luck to all for the remainder of the 2013 monte season.

The Canadian monte performers have also posted admirable numbers with veteran Harlequin posting three wins in as many starts. Rider Riina Rekila has three wins in four starts and trainer Geoff Maltby also has three victories.