by John Pawlak, USTA marketing director

Columbus, OH — Herbert J. Burns III and Stephen W. Demeter’s Bono Bests sandwiched a victory in the $100,000 Battle of Lake Erie between wins in legs of the George Morton Levy Series on the way to April Horse of the Month honors, as conferred by the U.S. Trotting Association.

Mike Lizzi photo

Bono Bests won all three of his April starts and has been named Horse of the Month.

The son of Pro Bono Best, trained by Ross Croghan, began his month with an off-the-pace win in the second round of the Levy Series, in which he finished 1-3/4 lengths ahead of the pack, in 1:52.3.

While the Levy Series continued at Yonkers, Bono Bests was shipped to Cleveland for the $100,000 Battle of Lake Erie, in which he used similar tactics to score: The speedy 4-year-old got away seventh, bided his time, and then came three-wide at the three-quarter pole on the way to a 1:52.2 score over a sloppy track.

Returning to Yonkers on the following Saturday, the betting public made Bono Bests their 27-10 choice. He responded with a 1:52.3 win — again from off the pace — to complete his perfect month of April.

“He’s just a real gentleman to drive,” driver Patrick Berry said in the Yonkers winner’s circle after Bono Bests’ second Levy win in April. “He was sort of screwing around in the post parade, but when he saw the gate he was all business.”

The kind of business that has seen Bono Bests win seven of 11 starts and $163,440 already this year — and now USTA Horse of the Month honors for April.