by John Manzi, publicity director, Monticello Raceway

Monticello, NY — Can Northern Chief overcome what some horsemen consider “the jinx” — that being media coverage concerning the pacer’s chances at a new Monticello Raceway track record is of 11 wins in a row — which he’ll tackle on Wednesday afternoon (Nov. 3).

Geri Schwarz photo

Northern Chief, shown here winning for the tenth consecutive time, will have to overcome post seven on Wednesday.

Perhaps that jinx idea has spawned from the baseball theory that no one talks to the pitcher when he has a no-hitter going or else his chances of fruition might disappear. Nonsense say the rational; what will be will be.

Certainly the pacer’s regular driver, Mike Merton, doesn’t concur with the “jinx theory” since after their latest triumph on Oct. 27 he said “we tied it (the record) today and hopefully we’ll break it next week.”

On Wednesday Merton and Northern Chief will get their chance of owning the record outright, though if Merton had his druthers he would like to have an inside post position rather than the seven hole that the pacer will be starting from in the 12th and final race on Wednesday’s card.

“He (Northern Chief) has been at the top of his game for months now and he did win his last two starts from the eight hole so I’m hoping with a little racing luck we can do it again from the sevenhole,” Merton said.

Northern Chief, a 7-year-old Apache’s Fame gelding owned by Bob Merton, Jr. and Al DeSimone, and trained by Gary Messenger, notched his 10th consecutive triumph on Oct. 27, which tied the local track record established first in 2008 by Hogies Cam and driver Jordan Stratton and then equaled by Mr Thinker and Zeke Parker earlier this season.

The fastest clocking of Northern Chief’s win skein was a 1:57.1 triumph back in early August and this year the pacer has won 11 races in 18 starts.

Rated at odds of 5-2 on the Wednesday card, Northern Chief can expect a tussle from Color Library (3-1) and Zeke Parker, who’ll start from the pole position, and from newcomer Bring Iton Mr Rick (9-2), who’ll be handled by Rick Magee from post four.

Post time for the 12-race card is at 12:25 p.m. with tentative post time for the 12th race at 4 p.m.