by John Manzi, publicity director, Monticello Raceway

Monticello, NY — When Monticello Raceway presents its Au Revoir on New Year’s Eve Day, December 31, one thing is for sure and that is that a 14-year-old will win the race.

If that sounds presumptuous it’s really not because every horse in the race is 14-years-old and it will mark the last time that they ever have a chance to compete because when they turn 15, which will be on January 1, 2010, they are forced into retirement.

If a race for 14-year-olds only isn’t unique enough, add to it the fact that the race will pit two trotters against five pacers, something that is rarely, if ever, done on a betting card at an extended pari-mutuel race meet.

With only one of the entrants local the others came in from tracks like Lebanon Raceway, Saratoga Raceway, Plainridge Racecourse, Scarborough Downs and Northfield Park.

It’s the pacer from Lebanon Raceway, Bonn Star N, a $259,000 lifetime winner of 53 races, who has been tabbed as the early line favorite. Owner-trainer Mark Gillenwater has secured the driving services of Kyle DiBenedetto when the Holmes Hanover gelding leaves from the four hole. His fastest of five seasonal victories, a 1:57.3 effort, came at Scioto Downs last summer but he won his last start in 2:01.2 at Lebanon Raceway.

Another pacer, Satin Time N, a $208,000 lifetime winner, also with 53 trips to the winner’s circle, figures to be the main competition and will start from post position three. Owned and usually driven by Dawn Anderson, she has opted to hand the lines to Greg Merton. A winner of 14 races this season — the fastest in 1:56.3 at Plainridge Racecourse — Satin Time N is the second choice on the morning line at 3-1.

Am I Next A, a winner of 11 races this year, the fastest a 1:54 clocking at Saratoga Raceway during the past summer, will have Zeke Parker at the controls. The Heidi Rohr-trained and owned What’s Next gelding has competed here three times since mid-November and a second place finish is his best showing. The pacer, who’ll leave from post six, has won 73 races and earned over $416,000 in his career.

Carrying the flag for the trotters will be I’m Dam Goog, a $665,000 winner who has captured 98 races in an illustrious career. The altered son of Google was a 2:03.2 winner at Saratoga Raceway on December 3. Owner-trainer Harvey Stein, who raced I’m Dam Goog in the Billings Series this year, will be in the sulky when I’m Dam Goog starts from the pole position.

In their careers the competing horses collectively have won 416 races and one more will be added to that total when the judges declare the 2009 Au Revoir official.

First post on December 31 will be at 12:25 p.m. The Au Revoir will be the fourth race on the 13-race card with an approximate post time of 1:15 p.m.

The field, with odds and drivers, lines-up as follows: 1-(t) I’m Dam Goog (3-1-Harvey Stein); 2-(t) Numberonefan (4-1-Mike Forte); 3-(p)Satin Time N (3-1-Greg Merton); 4-(p) Bonn Star N (5-2-Kyle DiBenedetto); 5-(p) Opps Whatapromise (12-1 Bruce Aldrich, Jr.); 6-(p) Am I Next A (7-2-Zeke Parker); and 7-(p) Uphill Battle (10-1 Jamie Dunlap).