by John Manzi, publicity director, Monticello Raceway

Monticello, NY — When Leon Smith purchased a chestnut weanling by Camelot Ernst specifically with the intent of using him as a companion for his highly regarded Nervy Royal colt, little did Smith realize that the companion colt would end up better than his highly regarded one.

That’s the truth,” Smith said laughing. “I purchased Camelot Red for $1,200 to keep my other colt company. I had him altered and the two ran together for over a year and when I put them both in training, low and behold it was the companion colt that made the races and my Nervey Royal colt is eating grass in the field right now.”

Camelot Red, in rein to Stephane Bouchard, used the front-end route to score a 2:06.1 victory over Ladybird T and driver Ken Ball in the $7,500 NYSS County Fair Final for two-year-old trotters at Monticello Raceway on Thursday, September 1, which made Smith and his wife Beth very happy people.

“Actually he’s my wife’s pet and she is overjoyed with what the little red guy has done for us this season, especially when we didn’t expect anything from him,” added Smith, of nearby Accord, New York. “Besides winning over $10,000 he’s given us a world of pleasure.”

While racing around the New York County Fair circuit this summer Camelot Red had four previous victories but with his win here today he reduced his lifetime mark by six and three-fifths seconds.

In all, four $7,500 NYSS County Fair Finals for two and three-year-olds were on tap during the afternoon program.

The two-year-old pacing final went to Addisons Shuttle over Harold Smith’s Go Go Cocomo in a time of 2:03. The altered son of Space Shuttle, owned by Larry Lanpher of Winter Park, Florida, was driven to victory by Rod LaFramboise.

“He’s a pretty nice colt,” LaFramboise told New York State Harness Horse Breeding and Development Fund Director, Peter Goold, in the winner’s circle after the race.

“One thing about these county fair horses they sure know how to get around the turns,” LaFramboise chuckled.

Darsun, a son of Sprint Victory in rein to Bill Bailey, won the $7,500 NYSS County Fair Final for three-year-old trotters over Killington Reign and driver Carmen Cappotelli in a time of 2:06. Owned by Nancy Lynn Cole of Oneida, New York, Darsun now has 10 wins, one second and one third in 20 seasonal starts.

Last Sunday Pembroke Inky finished seventh in a division of the New York Sires Stakes here but the On The Road Again colt made amends today when he won the final $7,500 NYSS County Fair Final for sophomore pacers in a time of 1:59.3. Bill Bailey was in the bike for owner Bill Varney of Bangor, Maine when Pembroke Inky turned back the betting favorite Bubalaur, who was driven by Rod LaFramboise.

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