by John Manzi, publicity director, Monticello Raceway

MONTICELLO, NY – Last week in the eliminations for Monticello Raceway’s William Sullivan Memorial Trot RC Royalty established a track record when he won his division in 1:56.

However, that record lasted exactly one week because in the $264,000 Final of the Sully Memorial on July 16, Tony Poliseno’s, Man About Town, established yet a new mark when Yannick Gingras guided him to a stunning 1:55.4 victory, which is now the fastest mile ever trotted in the 50 year history of Monticello Raceway.

With the sun shining brightly and then temperature hovering in the low 80’s, eight stalwart trotters lined up behind the mobile starting gate with RC Royalty again on the rail position and Man About Town– also a division winner last week– in the four hole.

Last Monday in the elims everyone allowed Dan Daley to cut soft early fractions with RC Royalty but this time nobody sat back and let Daley control the tempo. They were at him early and there was action right from the get-go.

RC Royalty again went for the lead and Daley made all comers try to find a hole in behind him – most did, except for JM VanGogh (Jeff Gregory) who had no choice but the stay on the limb which forced a :27.4 first quarter.

RC Royalty had command at the half in a swift :56.3 with JM Van Gogh still going the overland route. As the field approached the half way point Gingras moved Man About Town up behind JM Van Gogh and Gingras had all he could do to keep the Self Professed 4-year-old gelding in behind Gregory’s trotter.

On the backstretch Gingras finally tipped Man About Town three-deep and they easily trotted around the leaders and then braced for the come-from-behind bunch.

Sand Vic and Med Vac took up the chase around the final turn but Man About Town was up to the challenge. He hung tough and led Med Vac (Larry Stalbaum) to the finish wire for a 3-4 length triumph in a new track record time. Sand Vic rambled home third best for Brian Sears.

A confident Gingras thought his trotter was the one to beat going into the Sullivan Memorial.

“I really felt we were the best and (we) got a big break with the fast first half,” Gingras related in the winners circle after the race. “I had plenty of horse up the backstretch but I kept watch for Sand Vic, because when he’s right he can be tough to beat. As it turned out Sand Vic wasn’t the strong horse; it was Med Vac who was.”

Owner Tony Poliseno was a happy man when he and his family joined in for the winners circle ceremony.

“I bought this horse last year and he’s been real good to me,” Poliseno said. “But when we went for the big money we were always fourth or fifth, but now we finally got a big one. I’m thrilled.”

With his victory Man About Town nearly doubled his seasonal earnings and now has bankrolled over $269,000 this season.

Sent off as second choice behind Sand Vic, Man About Town notched his sixth seasonal triumph and paid $5.40 for win.

Gingras, who on Sunday afternoon won the $201,500 Silk Stockings Final with Darlin’s Delight in 1:52.3, made it two stakes wins and two track records in two days at the Mighty M.