by John Manzi, publicity director, Monticello Raceway

Monticello, NY — He came; he saw; and he conquered. But that is not unusual for driver John Campbell. He’s made a Hall of Fame career out of it.

photo courtesy of racehorsephoto.com

Gerri’s Joy cruised through the passing lane to a 1:56.1 track record performance for driver John Campbell in the $339,500 Tully Memorial Trot.

At Monticello Raceway on Monday afternoon, October 22, Campbell reined Nicholas Cimino’s Gerri’s Joy to a 1:56.1 track record victory in the inaugural $339,500 Philip W. Tully Memorial Trot.

It was Campbell’s only mount on the 12-race card.

The weather was sunny and warm for the mid-autumn afternoon in the Catskills with the temperature hovering around 80-degrees and the brightly colored leaves forming a breathtaking backdrop as the trotting fillies circled the double oval.

When the gate sprung Campbell rushed his filly toward the front from the three-hole but Zeke Parker and Just Dandy, who were inside of Gerri’s Joy in post position two, had the same idea.

Gerri’s Joy gained command as the field straightened up the backstretch and headed for the first stanza. Stephane Bouchard and Likeavirgin Lindy charged up seeking the front-end and Campbell let them go as the quarter-mile timer flashed 28.2.

Bouchard and Likeavirgin Lindy led the field to the half in 57.3 at which point Jody Jamieson and Pippiwhitestockngs circled the leaders and drew off as they headed up the backstretch the final time around.

Meanwhile Likeavirgin Lindy began to tire which put Campbell in dire straights as they seemed hopelessly locked in when Victoria Volo and David Miller ranged alongside the leaders.

Campbell, the master that he is, somehow worked his way between horses and Gerri’s Joy scooted past Likeavirgin Lindy and moved along the pylons in the final turn as Pippiwhitestockngs appeared headed for victory.

However, Campbell was just biding his time until he reached the passing lane and when he did he angled his filly down along the inside and she rallied to a 2-1/2 length triumph over Pippiwhitestockngs. Victoria Volo finished third.

Campbell recapped his journey with the Noel Daley trained daughter of Enjoy Lavec in the winner’s circle after the race.

“When Likeavirgin Lindy came at us at the quarter I let her go. She just set the track record last week and I thought I get a good trip behind her but when she began to tire up the backstretch we were in trouble and I didn’t know if we’d be able to get out,” he said. “But we worked our way out between horses and then I moved back inside and waited for the passing lane. At that point I was pretty confident that we’d be a winner though I wasn’t completely sure that my filly would pass on the inside but when we got clearance she trotted on by Jody (Jamieson and Pippiwhitestockngs) and we were an easy winner.

Asked again if he was as confident about winning at the three-quarter pole, Campbell smiled and said: “I wasn’t sure we’d get out but we got a little lucky.”

The time of 1:56:1 shattered the former track record of 1:58 for 3-year-old trotting fillies. Likeavirgin Lindy equaled that mark last week but it was initially set earlier this year by Masterpiece T.