by Thomas H. Hicks for monteamerica.com

Pompano Beach, FL — USTA’s David Carr has provided the 2014 Monte/RUS leaders in North American action. The 2014 leaders, based on earnings, follow and deserve hearty congratulations for work well done. Efforts are underway in 2015 with both qualifying events in the US and qualifiers plus pari-mutuel races in Ontario. Best wishes to all participants for great success and demonstrating again the adaptability of the Standardbred horse.

Top Horses – US and Canada

Top Riders – US and Canada

Top Monte Trainers – US and Canada

The top dash winners in 2014 by category follow:
Horse US – Vassar Hall and Tymal Oh So Nice, three each
Horse Canada – Radical Dreamer and Lexus Hawkeye, three each
Rider US – Michelle Crawford, seven
Rider Canada – Natalie Elliott, four
Trainer US – George Ducharme, three
Trainer Canada – Ronald O’Neil and Pam Forgie, three each

Recent Canadian action began May 15 at Western Fair with monte trotters competing for a purse of C$4,200. Lexus Hawkeye (Amigo Hall-Lexus Lulu) took that event in 2:05 for Natalie Elliott with a final panel in :31.3. Pam Forgie is the trainer. SAS Warkentin was second beaten by a head. Handle was C$7,658.

At Flamboro May 17, on the Sunday Confederation Cup card, the monte trotters battled for a C$4,200 purse. Riina Rekila piloted Massive Muscles (Muscle Mass-Flirting Lavec) to victory in 2:00.3h with a :31.4 final quarter. The winner scored narrowly over Santo Domingo. Handle was C$26,388.

On May 24 at Clinton the monte action continued for a purse of C$3,500 and Truth In Action (Cantab Hall-Cressida Hanover) scored in 2:04.3h for Karen Isbell. Handle was C$2,008. This winner is from the dam of Glidemaster and the 2015 3-year-old speedster Canepa Hanover. On June 20 at Kawartha Sophie M. Engerran rode Massive Muscles to another victory, this tine in 2:00.4f with a :30.3 final quarter. Julie Walker trains Massive Muscles that she co-owns with Jean Bernard Renaud. The purse was C$3,700 and handle of this sixth race on the card was C$3,875.

Qualifying RUS action has also begun in the US and Canada with winners listed below in date order:
June 5 Vernon, Sweetie’s Secret, Michelle Crawford, 2:04.4s
June 7 Goshen, Admirable Hanover, Vanessa Karlewicz, 2:08.2h
June 8 Gaitway, Rev It Now, Helene Gregory, 2:00.4
June 12 Vernon, Iron Will, Heather Reese, 2:02.3s
June 13 Kawartha, Broadway Prince, A. Humphries, 1:58.4f
June 14 Goshen, Rev It Now, Helene Gregory, 2:07.4h
June 14 Northfield, Im, Nadine Habke, 2:09.1h
June 15 Gaitway, Catalyst, Tara Hynes, 1:59
June 19 Vernon, Alarming Quick, Ashley Eldred, 2:05s
June 20 Kawartha, Massive Muscles, Sophie M. Engerran, 2:00.4f
June 21 Goshen, Catalyst, Tara Hynes, 2:04.2h

RUS Ontario (www.rusontario.com) has a number of scheduled races on tap, both qualifiers and pari-mutuel:
June 27 Hanover qua
July 4 Georgian qua and Hanover pm
July 11 Georgian qua
July 18 Georgian pm

Many other Ontario tentative stops at the raceways are in development and US and Ontario schedules will be updated as available.

RUS New York also announced its 2015 schedule shown below. Conditions may be found on their website, www.rus-newyork.com:
July 1 Sandy Lease
July 7 Owego
July 9 Afton
July 21 Hemlock
August 4 Morris
August 10 Palmyra
August 12 Malone
August 18 Bath
August 25 Trumansburg
September – Final at Monticello Raceway