by John Manzi, publicity director, Monticello Raceway

Monticello, NY — The weekly $13,600 Mares Preferred Pace on Monday afternoon, June 11, at Monticello Raceway was a battle from start to finish. Not only did the eventual winner make a run at the pace-setter, Ms Raider, up the backstretch, and was rebuffed, but in the deep stretch one more late surge got Park’em Out Missy up for the scantest of victories.

Bruce Aldrich, Jr. was in the sulky behind Park’em Out Missy, who tripped the timer in 1:56 to notch her third victory of the season.

But there was action galore in that contest right from the reel.

Billy “Zeke” Parker, Jr. gunned Lady Coyote for the lead and had command on the first turn, but company was coming. Ms Raider, in rein to Mike Forte, challenged for the lead but didn’t take command until Parker let her go in a :28.1 first stanza.

Once on top Forte kept traveling and got the field by the half in :57. Jordan “the Kid” Stratton, with Lazy Running, were the first to move and they started slowly from sixth position while they looked for cover, which did not come until the clubhouse turn, at which point Bruce Aldrich moved Park’em Out Missy up to challenge the leader, Ms Raider.

Though Ms Raider and Park’em Out Missy were side by side for a while, Ms Raider had more pace and opened up a hole which Aldrich obligingly settled into around the final turn. And just when it appeared that Ms Raider was home free, out again came Park’em Out Missy and she battled Ms Raider to the wire and scored a short nose victory in a time of 1:56. Lady Coyote, who had settled in for a two hole trip, never left the inside and third place was the best she could muster.

Owned by Durazzano Stable Associates and trained by April Aldrich, Park’em Out Missy paid $9.40 for win.