by John Manzi, publicity director, Monticello Raceway

Monticello, NY — It wouldn’t take much to realize that Speed Of Shogun likes the Monticello Raceway double-oval.

Speed Of Shogun holds off Armbro Copenhagen to win the $15,000 Preferred Trot.

On Wednesday afternoon (May 24) the German-bred trotter from American bloodlines continued his winning ways in the Mighty M’s weekly $15,000 Preferred when Jimmy Meittinis guided the 10-year-old Shogun Lobell gelding to a 1:58.4 triumph — which marked his third victory in as many starts against the best trotters on the grounds.

Despite starting on the far outside from post position seven, Meittinis wasted no time sending Speed of Shogun to the lead and the veteran gelding, who left like a runner, trotted around Armbro Copenhagen and the rest of the field and was on top before the first turn. Armbro Copenhagen, the betting favorite, found himself on the limb as the two trotters headed for the quarter pole at which point Armbro Copenhagen moved in behind Speed Of Shogun.

After a :29 first panel, Speed Of Shogun raced unchallenged on the lead by the half in :59.2 at which point Claude Huckabone III moved Armbro Wizard first up and confronted the leader. The two then raced side by side up the backstretch until Speed Of Shogun rebuffed his challenger and trotted off to a two and three-quarter length lead at the top of the lane.

As the field headed for home Armbro Copenhagen took aim at the leader again, but Speed Of Shogun was up for the task and trotted to a three-quarter length victory over Armbro Copenhagen. Platinum Boy, with Jimmy De Vaux at the controls, finished third.

Owned by the Jesmaral Stable of Woodridge, New Jersey and trained by Earl Cruise, Speed Of Shogun paid $6.70 to win.

Monticello Raceway/racehorsephoto.com

Greetings (4) turns back Pine Ranger (6) and Armbro Calvin (3) in the winners over trot.

The co-featured $12,500 winners over trot featured a cavalry charge down the homestretch with three horses just noses apart at the finish in a time of 2:01.

The winner, Greetings, handled by Antonino Buttitta, shadowed Pine Ranger (Keith Haase) the entire mile, then rallied in the passing lane to eek-out a head victory over Haase’s trotter with Armbro Calvin and driver Stephane Bouchard just a neck back in third place.

Greetings, owned and trained by Buttitta, returned a $17.00 win pay-off.

The chalk players got burnt when only two of the 13 winners were the betting favorites. Six winning horses returned double-digit mutuel pay-offs which ranged between $13.20 and $25.60.