by John Manzi, publicity director, Monticello Raceway

Monticello, NY — On Wednesday afternoon (March 26), Monticello Raceway featured trotting races with four of the nine on the card for the diagonal gated. Included in the four was the weekly $8,100 Preferred Trot which for the second time in the last three weeks went to Bacon Hill Scott and driver Jordan Stratton.

Bacon Hill Scott arguably went one of his best races ever. With “the Kid” at the controls and having to start from post seven against a formable field of foes, Bacon Hill Scott got away miserably and was some 10 lengths back when Getthemoney gained command at the quarter-mile marker which was timed in :29.1.

As the field approached the half Stratton had Bacon Hill Scott in high gear and was moving up on the outside when traffic moved ahead of him. So instead of taking back, Stratton wheeled his trotter three-deep and they trotted around the leaders before the clubhouse turn.

From there it was catch me if you can and nobody could as Bacon Hill Scott trotted away from his competition and cruised home an easy two length winner over Getthemoney in a 2:00.1 clocking. Third place went to Sorce Of Victory with Stephane Bouchard at the helm.

It marked the fourth seasonal victory for Bacon Hill Scott and raised his 2008 earnings to over $26,000. The Sir Taurus 6-year-old gelding is owned by Jim Ray, John Alutto, Ben Velocci and John Esposito.

But “the Kid” couldn’t hog the spotlight that afternoon. He had to share it to an extent with Anne Wheeler, the veteran who is among the sport’s winningest lady drivers. Wheeler, at this stage of her lengthy career, only drives trotters, and her own at that. But it wasn’t always that way or else she never would have guided 815 horses to the winner’s circle.

Wheeler, from Edmeston, N.Y., was always a force to be reckoned with on the racetrack and even in the twilight of her career she certainly knows her way around the oval.

Up behind Speedy Rattle, whom she co-owns with Doc Keller, Wheeler sent her trotter to the lead and they raced unchallenged for the first half-mile. But up the backstretch the second time around company was on the move and Midnite Credit (Jordan Stratton) trotted up and looked Speedy Rattle in the eye, only to be rebuffed as Wheeler’s trotter proved superior.

However, when Jimmy Marohn took aim with Rose Run Hot Rod a stretch duel developed with both trotters neck and neck to the wire where the photo finish camera was needed to determine the winner.

And for the 815th time Anne Wheeler had scored a victory, albeit by just a head. Rose Run Hot Rod was second and Midnite Credit was third in the 2:02.3 clocked mile.

For Speedy Rattle, who was the older trotter of the year at the Mighty M a few seasons back, it marked his second consecutive victory and third of the season.