by John Manzi, publicity director, Monticello Raceway

Monticello, NY — Carlspur did it again. The 11-year-old stallion and winner of over $900,000 in his illustrious career, again won the pacing feature at Monticello Raceway on Tuesday, September 4, this time in 1:53.4. That victory came on the heels of a 1:54 triumph here last week which the United States Trotting Association noted as the fastest ever by an 11-year-old pacer on a half-mile track.

That being so, Carlspur’s 1:53.4 victory set yet another new standard for a pacing 11-year-old stallion, but moreover it adds to the legacy of the old warrior who was near death last fall, but was saved by a two-hour surgery at New Bolton Center in greater Philadelphia, Pa.

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Carlspur and Stephane Bouchard won the Monticello pacing feature in 1:53.4.

Stephane Bouchard was again at the controls on September 4 behind Carlspur, who started from post position three. Bouchard wasted no time sending the old veteran to the front and Carlspur played catch me if you can, sailing through fractions of :27.2, :57 and 1:25.3 before kicking in a :28.1 final stanza en route to a two length triumph over Stand Sharp BJ and driver Jordan Stratton.

“I love to drive (Carlspur) and he’s as good now as he’s been in a long time,” said Bouchard, who has driven the pacer so often that he has earned over $500,000 with Carlspur. “He may be 11 (years old) but he feels like a colt — and he loves to win races.”

By now the saga of Carlspur is well-known and it is arguably one of the greatest harness racing stories of 2007 and one that has a happy ending.

Owned by the Salerno-Trezza Partners 25, Carlspur was Monticello Raceway’s Horse of the Year last season, and not long after the pacer’s connections received the award at the Harness Writers Banquet, Carlspur took ill and nearly died.

Tom Trezza, the managing partner for the stable said after receiving Carlspur’s award last fall, “We intend to come back to Monticello (Raceway) next year and defend our crown,” not knowing the problems that would lie ahead for the pacer.

But Trezza lived up to his word and brought the old warrior back to the Mighty M after his long recuperation and road back to the racing wars.

Now with two wins, two seconds and two thirds in seven Monticello Raceway starts, if Racing Secretary Eric Warner can find enough high caliber pacers to race with him over the next few months, Carlspur may actually have a chance to win the Horse of the Year crown again.

But for sure, a Comeback of the Year Award awaits Carlspur and his connections when the Monticello-Goshen Chapter of USHWA holds their 49th annual Awards Banquet at Kutsher’s Country Club in Monticello on October 28.