by John Manzi, publicity director, Monticello Raceway

Monticello, NY — Levitys Prodigy and Cassatt each emerged victorious in their respective divisions of Monticello Raceway’s $12,500 winners over trot on Thursday, Jan. 4. The former was a winner in 2:01.4 while the latter scored in a time of 2:02.2.

Levitys Prodigy gets up in the final strides to defeat B’s Startrek in the first $12,500 trot.

In the first $12,500 trot, trainer Ross Cohen again gave the driving assignment behind Levitys Prodigy to Mike Forte and they responded with a come-from-behind victory which was the second consecutive in this class for the altered son of Levity Lobell.

Alan Schwartz and B’s Startrek cut the soft early fractions and got the field by the half-mile marker in a pedestrian 1:02.3. However, before that timer flashed, Forte was out and going with Levitys Prodigy and they trotted up alongside B’s Startrek. From there the two raced as a team around the clubhouse turn and up the backstretch and they passed the three-quarters in 1:31.4 after having trotted a :29.1 third stanza.

In the final turn it appeared that B’s Startrek was going to win the duel, but as the trotters passed the final sixteenth pole Levitys Prodigy began gaining with every stride and just before the finish wire he forged to the front and was a head winner in 2:01.4. Third place went to Hanger Pride N, driven by Jimmy Devaux.

Owned by John B. Lorenzo of West Islip, N.Y., Levitys Prodigy paid $6.30 for win.

Racehorsephoto.com photos

Eric Goodell rallies Cassatt to victory in their $12,500 trot.

Cassatt, last season’s trotting mare of the year at the Mighty M, copped the other $12,500 division with transplanted Michigander Eric Goodell at the controls.

After getting away sixth at the quarter pole, Goodell moved Cassatt up to challenge pace-setter and betting favorite Stan (Jimmy Taggart, Jr.) as they headed to the halfway point. They raced head-to-head and by the time the two passed the three-quarters Cassatt had gained command, but then had to brace for challenges from the trailing horses.

In the lane Stan began to fade and Billy Parker, Jr. had Big Z Silksjoy in high gear as they took dead-aim at Cassatt. But Goodell kept after his mare and she rebuffed the challenge and held on for a head victory over Big Z Silksjoy. Homestead Allegro finished third for Matt Romano in that 2:02.2 mile.

Owned by Rojo Racing LLC from Staten Island N.Y., and trained by Art Green, Cassatt returned a $10.20 win mutuel.

Greg Grismore, another top reinsman from the midwest who has done just the opposite of what Horace Greeley professed, scored his first Mighty M triumph of the season with a romping seven length triumph with Brian P in a time of 1:56.4.

The 4-year-old Western Hanover stallion, owned by Larry Roman of Mt. Vernon, N.Y., paid $7.50 for win.