Monticello, NY — Trainer Chris Petrelli has been on fire lately at Monticello Raceway. His 7-year-old war horse Camwood won Tuesday’s (Aug. 17) $7,700 Open Pace in 1:55.1 over a slick track after taking Monday’s (Aug. 16) Fillies and Mares Open with Beauty Is Blind in 1:55.1.

Camwood (white headgear) parried a late challenge from Cheyenne Ryan Lee to capture Tuesday’s featured Open Pace at Monticello Raceway. Geri Schwarz photo.

With Camwood’s regular driver, Cory Stratton, opting to drive Nox Vegas Bluechip for the Mark Ford stable, Petrelli put up leading driver Mike Merton to drive Camwood. Merton darted 1-5 favorite Camwood away from the gate, followed by last week’s Open winner, Cheyenne Ryan Lee (Luke Hanners), last week’s Open winner. The duo took the pack to the quarter in :28.1, and Merton then put the sleeper hold on the eight-horse field with a soft :29.4 second quarter as they hit the half in :58. Burning Midnight (Brandon Parker) pulled from fourth to start an outer flow, but to no avail as Camwood extended his lead to two lengths at three-quarters in 1:27. Down the lane, Cheyenne Ryan Lee dug hard, but came up a head short in a tight photo to Camwood. P H Kenny finished third.

It was the 10th win of the season for Camwood, who races for owner George Dremonas. He paid $2.70 to win.

A relatively new addition to the backstretch at Monticello Raceway, it seems Petrelli has found a home. Currently, he is in third place with 41 training wins and earnings over $140,000. Petrelli also won the card’s final race with Over Speeding, driven to a 1:58.3 victory by Bruce Aldrich Jr.