by John Manzi, publicity director, Monticello Raceway

Monticello, NY — Percee Angus has picked up where she left off last year and made her first start of the 2007 racing season at Monticello Raceway a winning one.

Racehorsephoto.com photo

Greg Merton and Percee Angus cruise to an easy 1:55.2 victory.

The daughter of Blissfull Hall was a winner of 21 races last season, which ranked her second only to Air Albert’s North American leading 24 victories. On Tuesday afternoon (Jan. 2), she easily turned the tables on the best pacing mares on the grounds and cruised to an oh-so-easy 11 length triumph in a time of 1:55.2 for driver Greg Merton.

The victory was the third consecutive for Percee Angus, who was taken from a $20,000 claiming event on November 13 by trainer Lance Hudson for patrons Fred and Anita Fialkow of Wellington, Fla.

Sent off as a weak favorite in the contest from post position three, Merton chose to stay back of the quick early pace set by She’s My Belle and driver Ray Schnittker.

But as the field approached the half-mile marker, Merton was out and going even before the timer flashed :56.3. And go he did — right to the lead as they headed toward the three-quarters and at that stanza Percee Angus had two lengths on She’s My Belle.

By the top of the stretch the margin was five lengths and at the wire the 5-year-old was 11 lengths ahead of her nearest pursuer, Lazy Running N, handled by Jordan “the Kid” Stratton. Third place went to Natural Woman N, who was in rein to Jimmy Devaux.

Despite her current form, surprisingly, Percee Angus returned a $5.80 win mutuel.

Transplanted Michiganite Larry Stalbaum got the 2007 campaign off to a big start when he reined five winners on the card. He got the ball rolling with a 2:02.4 victory with Jam’s Pushy Lady in the first race and then proceeded to win the fifth with Born Lucky in 2:01.3 and the sixth with Shezaflamintower in a 2:00.1 clocking. Win number four came in the 12th race behind Allikat Fighter in 2:01.3 and Stalbaum capped the day with a 1:58.2 victory with the vastly improved Terrific Peek.