from harness publicists across North America
Tuesday’s (July 20) edition of Racing Roundup features results stories from Monticello Raceway and Running Aces.
Future Fan posts third consecutive win at Monticello
Monticello, NY — While local fans await Mr Thinker’s attempt at a new track record for consecutive wins, Future Fan is stealing all the headlines and has risen to the head of the class at Monticello Raceway.
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Geri Schwarz photo
Future Fan cruised to a new lifetime mark of 1:54.4.
On Tuesday afternoon, the 9-year-old Falcon’s Future gelding earned a new lifetime record when Mike Merton guided the pacer to an easy eight length victory in a time of 1:54.4. The win was the third consecutive for the Tom Merton-trained gelding and the pacer’s ninth of the season. Last week Future Fan was victorious in 1:56.2 and two weeks ago he scored in 1:55.4.
A happy Mike Merton was asked about the current prowess of Future Fan and his 1:54.4 new lifetime mark.
“I didn’t realize we were going that fast and it wasn’t until after the mile that I heard (track announcer) Howard Oil point out the (final race) time,” Merton said. “He’s (Future Fan) always been a useful horse over the past few years and he goes in spurts. He’s good awhile and he’s not so good during other times. Hopefully, he keeps up his current form.”
After starting from the five hole Merton waited until he neared the halfway point before moving Future Fan out to challenge. They were third, two lengths off the pacesetter and favorite Undersky Torpedo, but as the two raced up the backstretch Future Fan pulled away and had a four length lead as the three-quarter timer flashed 1:26. From there Merton was just a passenger while Future Faan paid attention to business and romped home an eight length winner in 1:54.4, one of the fastest clockings at the Mighty M this season. Game Jocko and Bruce Aldrich, Jr. rallied to be second while Badlands Josh (Mike Forte) took home the show dough.
Future Fan, owned by Derby Racing Inc., increased his seasonal bankroll to more than $34,000 while his backers were rewarded with a $5.90 win mutuel.
The victory with Future Fan was one of three on the card for Mike Merton. He also won the third race with Another Mike ($4.10) in 1:56.3 and scored with Best Of Times ($10.00) in 1:57.2 in the sixth race.
— John Manzi
Running Aces
Track record holder Arizona Liar hadn’t won since opening night (June 1) at Running Aces, but regained his form Tuesday night to capture the $8,500 Open in 1:55.2. A full field of nine, including other 2010 Open winners Out Of My Hands, Gooch’s Bad Boy and ML Jackhammer, left the John Betts starting gate with owner-trainer-driver Mark King putting Arizona Liar, his ace 11-year-old stallion, on the front end in :28.3. Unpressured to the halfway point in :59.3, the pace quickened considerably thereafter with the lukewarm favorite throwing a :55.4 back half to hold off ML Jackhammer (Daniel Maier) and Gooch’s Bad Boy (Nick Roland) by three-quarters of a length. It was the 39th career victory for Arizona Liar and pushed his lifetime bankroll over $672,000. A pair of Minnesota-sired races were co-featured on the program with Dandy Di (Tom Tetrick) getting the nod over Chocollicious (Roland) and favored Love This Place (Dean Magee) in the $8,500 “A” event. The $5,000 “B” affair was won by Restless Yankee (Craig Banks) in 1:57.1 over Gogan (Joey Mapes) and Daddy Don’t Care (Roland). Restless Yankee is a 3-year-old half brother to the 4-year-old mare Love This Place and the 5-year-old gelding Gogan, as all three are out of Towners Love Dove by Big Towner, and the trio have been among the most impressive Minnesota-sired horses of 2010 with ten Running Aces wins between them. Quickest mile of the night belonged to Hidden Dragon N (Maier), who captured a $5,500 conditioned event in 1:54.3 over Blue Punch (Roland) and Sweeney Hanover (John DeLong).