by John Manzi, publicity director, Monticello Raceway

Monticello, NY — Last year when Monticello Raceway presented its inaugural Junior Free For All it was believed to have been a harness racing first.

“Never, at least to my knowledge, did a racetrack ever card a race in which all the drivers carried a ‘Jr.’ after their names like our Junior Free For All did last year,” noted Eric Warner, the track’s director of racing. “It was a fan favorite and we’re bringing it back again this season.”

On Monday (June 17) eight juniors will again line up behind the mobile starting gate and compete in the second edition of the Mighty M’s Junior Free For All, which will be the sixth race on the card that afternoon.

“This race is meant as a tribute to all dads, but especially to the fathers of the competing drivers,” Warner added. “We don’t race on Sundays or we would have scheduled this race on Father’s Day (June 16).”

As luck would have it, the track’s leading driver, Bruce Aldrich, Jr., has drawn the 5-2 favorite in the race in Lady Belle and they’ll start from the two hole.

Billy “Zeke” Parker, Jr., the 18-time driving champ here at Monticello, was off the board in the inaugural Junior Free For All, but arguably will fare better this time when he jumps up behind Reilette, the 3-1 second choice on the morning line, and leave from post three.

Strangely, KZ Bezz, the pacing mare who won last year’s Junior Free For All in a 1:57.4 clocking, will be looking to make it two for two this year. Driven last season by Greg Decker, Jr., this time she’ll have a new driver in Jimmy Taggart, Jr. since he drew her in the lottery drawing for the horses.

Peter Lutman, Jr. may be the sleeper in the contest with Hannah’s Creek and the pole position. Two starts back the 8-year-old mare won here in 1:59 on the engine and a trip like that on Monday may put Lutman in the winner’s circle.

Other drivers featured in this contest include Jimmy Marohn, Jr., Joe Ricco, Jr., Johnny De Simone, Jr. and Jimmy Doherty, Jr.

It should be known that both driving assignments and post positions were drawn by lot.

Here’s the field for the Junior Free For All, with post positions, morning line odds and drivers.

1-Hannahs Creek (7-2)–Peter Lutman, Jr.
2-Lady Belle (5-2)–Bruce Aldrich, Jr.
3-Reillette (3-1)–Billy Parker, Jr.
4-Musical Maven (10-1)–Jimmy Marohn, Jr.
5-KZ Bezz (4-1)–Jimmy Taggart, Jr.
6-Eden First (8-1)–Joe Ricco, Jr.
7-Bouncy Three (9-2)–Jimmy Doherty, Jr.
8-Asian Express (12-1)–Johnny DeSimone, Jr.

Post time for the 13-race card on Monday will be at the usual 12:50 p.m. The Junior Free For All will be race six.