by John Manzi, publicity director, Monticello Raceway

Monticello, NY — Not only did Green Day and Mythical Lindy win their $25,000 eliminations in Monticello Raceway’s $378,000 Nevele Pride Stakes on Monday (June 18), but in the process each established a track record with their victory. And ironically both colts started on the far outside from post position seven.

Green Day scored in 1:58.1 for Cat Manzi.

Trillium Racing Stable’s Green Day, with Cat Manzi aboard, toured the double-oval in 1:58.1 to establish a new mark for 3-year-old trotting geldings and three races later the standard for 3-year-old trotting colts fell when David Miller guided Tom York, Jr. and Joe Sbrocco’s Mythical Lindy, to a 1:57.3 triumph.

Both trotters were equally impressive and will lock horns in the $328,000 final set for next Monday, June 25. Joining them will be the trotters that finished in the top four placings in each split.

Also qualifying from the first division were Manfinity, Cumulus and Anzio Hall, who finished second through fourth behind Green Day. Qualifying from the second split behind Mythical Lindy were Got That Look, Hitwiththeladies and Worldclass Guy, who finished second through fourth respectively.

In the first elimination the Catman sent Green Day, an altered son of Enjoy Lavec, toward the lead but Anzio Hall (Billy Parker, Jr.) beat them away from the gate. However, when they passed the quarter in :28.2 Parker let Manzi have the front-end.

With Green Day comfortable on the lead, George Brennan, up behind Manfinity, moved at the three-eighths pole and scooted toward the front and at the half they gained command. Green Day then shadowed Manfinity up the backstretch but before they reached the three-quarters Manzi was out again and retook the lead, this time for good.

Green Day opened up three lengths on the field and coasted home an easy 4-1/2 length winner over Manfinity with Cumulus another length back in third place.

“He’s a real handy colt and when Georgie (Brennan with Manfinity) came at the half I let him go, which was sort of our game plan,” Manzi said about Green Day, who races without an overcheck. “I didn’t plan on coming out again so soon but at the three-quarters my horse was full of trot and we just zipped around Manfinity and cruised home unchallenged.”

Green Day, a $6,000 yearling purchase trained by Jim Raymer, notched his fifth victory of the season and fastest ever on a double-oval.

Mythical Lindy remained undefeated in three seasonal starts with his wire-to-wire triumph in the second split.

Racehorsephoto.com photos

Mythical Lindy won his third straight sophomore start.

Miller gunned Mythical Lindy immediately to the front and after they gained command Miller never had any doubt about the outcome, even when the SJ’s Caviar colt threw a right front shoe as he trotted by the quarter pole.

Despite being unbalanced, Mythical Lindy was comfortable on the front-end and when he trotted a :28.3 final stanza that was all it took to keep Got That Look (Jeff Gregory) at bay and go on to a 1-1/4 length victory in track record time. Hitwiththeladies (Stephane Bouchard), who had a two hole trip, had room up the passing lane but couldn’t catch the leaders and finished third.

“I was never in doubt any place in the mile even when he threw a shoe near the quarter pole,” Miller said of the Jim Arledge-trained colt. “He (Mythical Lindy) never even flinched and trotted on like nothing was wrong.”

Mythical Lindy, a $60,000 yearling purchase, now has nine wins and two seconds in 13 lifetime starts and Monday’s victory pushed his career bankroll to over $350,000.