by John Manzi, publicity director, Monticello Raceway

Monticello, NY — When you’re hot you’re hot, so said the late country singer Jerry Reed in one of his famous songs.

That phrase could certainly be applied to the temperature — 97 degrees — on Tuesday, July 6, at Monticello Raceway and to the prowess of the Merton brothers on the racetrack, who together won a combined total of eight races — Greg won five and Michael won three.

Geri Schwarz photo

Despite an overland trip, Southbound Trucker won in 1:57.

Greg’s five-bagger was highlighted by his second consecutive victory with Southbound Trucker, the Mighty M’s Horse of the Year last season, in the weekly pacing feature. Racing mostly out of town this year due to a lack of local competition, Southbound Trucker returned home last week and scored an easy victory and then duplicated that feat again on Tuesday afternoon.

“It’s not only incredible that Southbound Trucker wins with such regularity but it’s the way the veteran pacer wins,” noted Shawn Wiles, the track’s Assistant General Manager.

For the second consecutive week Southbound Trucker raced the entire mile on the outside and still rallied to a :28.3 final stanza to score a 1:57 triumph over Smarty Merit and driver Jimmy Marohn.

“I said it last week and I’ll say it again, he (Southbound Trucker) doesn’t like any horses in front of him, so going the long distance on a half-mile track doesn’t seem to hinder him,” Greg Merton related after reining Southbound Trucker to his fourth seasonal triumph. “Sometimes I just feel like a passenger. The old guy knows what he’s doing and he really loves to win.”

The 7-year-old altered son of Sharky Spur is owned by George Stamatien and trained by his dad, Art Stamatien.

Greg Merton also won four other races on the card. He won the fifth with Pizza’s Western in 1:57.4 and after reining Southbound Trucker home first he scored with Elm Grove Action in 1:58.3 in the ninth race. He then won the tenth with Tough Luck in 1:57.1 and his final victory on the card came in the 13th and final race when he guided Asian Express to a 2:01 triumph.

Meanwhile brother Michael had a hat trick of his own giving the Merton boys eight wins in the 13 races presented. Michael won the first race with Another Mike in 1:57.1 and then scored a 1:57.4 triumph with Best Of Times in the fourth race. Michael’s third victory came in race six when he guided Future Fan to a 1:55.4 victory and turned back brother Greg, who was driving Sempre Pronto.