Monticello, NY — Austin Siegelman’s favorite number recently has been five. On two occasions already in the young 2019 season, the 27-year-old Siegelman had won five races at Monticello Raceway. On Thursday (March 7), he did it again for the third time. It didn’t matter if he was starting from the rail or the eight hole, Siegelman found a way to find the winner’s circle.
The winners started in the first race where he piloted River Run For Ryan to a 1:57.3 win for trainer Arthur Jones. The son of Western Terror notched his first win of the year.
Badlands Palace took the third race from post position two for her second pari-mutuel win of the year in 1:59.3 for trainer Robert Lounsbury and owner Margaret Olmstead. The daughter of Badlands Hanover returned $3.10 to win.
Siegelman scored from the eight hole with Woodmere Rondevous in 1:59.4 by a scant neck and paid $12.60 to win.
Reflexionofroyalty would account for Siegelman’s fourth win of the afternoon. The 4-year-old mare by American Ideal is trained by Allen Sisco and scored in 2:01, returning $3.70.
Siegelman’s last winner of the day was with Yankee Devil (post two), who scored a wire-to-wire win in 1:59.2 ($5.70) for trainer E. Bucky Angle Jr. Yankee Devil, a 14-year-old son of Yankee Cruiser, was winless in 2018 in 14 starts.
With a bit more luck Siegelman could have won seven races. He was just nailed at the wire in the seventh race with the 3-5 favorite Histoire Eternelle in a tight photo. In the eighth race, post time favorite Ironbarbassy was scratched lame in the post parade.
In the paddock after the conclusion of racing when asked about his day, the reserved Siegelman said, “I have been getting live mounts and I have been putting them in good spots.”
Siegelman is atop the leader board for dash winners with 65, followed by Michael Merton (61), James DeVaux (47), Bruce Aldrich (46) and Jim Taggart Jr. rounding out the top five with 30 wins,
A total of $599,529 was wagered on the nine-race card, an average of $66,000 per race.
Live racing resumes Monday (March 11) at 12:50 p.m.