by John Manzi, publicity director, Monticello Raceway

Monticello, NY — It seems that nearly every year young talent passes through Monticello Raceway. Of course many racetracks can make that claim but since its inception the Mighty M has been a stepping stone into the metropolitan New York area racetracks.

In recent years, Jordan Stratton dazzled them in Monticello when he became the youngest driver to ever win a dash title here and is now among the leaders at Yonkers Raceway. And Jimmy Marohn, Jr., the Mighty M’s leading driver last season, showed his mettle when beat all the big boys in a driving championship at Vernon and Tioga Downs. And for young Jimmy the move to the big time won’t be far away.

Furthermore, Bruce Aldrich, Jr., who won more races here in the first decade of the 21st century than any other reinsman, is driving this season at both Monticello and Saratoga and he’s having a banner year, currently with 453 wins which ranks him fifth in North America.

Geri Schwarz photo

Jason Ryan won three races on Tuesday at Monticello.

Now, newcomer Jason Ryan is starting off like gangbusters. On the Tuesday card (Oct. 8), the 25-year-old Canadian driver won three races and he has opened the railbird’s eyes with his talent. Since coming here a few weeks ago, after 21 starts Ryan has nine wins, one second and two thirds for a UDR of more than .500.

He won the second race Tuesday when he guided Anthony Artuso’s Threestepstoheaven ($3.60) to a 1:56.4 triumph and then won the fourth with Allard Racing and Yves Sarrazin’s UFDragons Rocket ($3.30), also in a time of 1:56.4. His third driving victory came in the weekly pacing feature when he got Anatolia Racing and Allard Racing’s Big Bay Point ($3.50) home first in a 1:54.4 clocking.

Last week Ryan claimed Haroun Hanover, the 20-time winner this year, and the pacer made his first start from a new barn and after cutting the mile he faded and finished second to M D Bee Bee in 1:56.2, the horse that Zeke Parker won his 11,039th race with, which made him the sixth winningest driver all time in North America.

After his hat trick Ryan was asked what are his current plans?

“I’m doing good here and I plan on staying all winter,” he told the publicity department.