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Monday’s (Oct. 25) edition of Racing Roundup features results stories from The Meadows, Pompano Park and Monticello Raceway.

First-over blitz carries Jojo N Goliath to victory

Washington, PA — Oblivious to the sloppy conditions, the first-over Jojo N Goliath blistered the back half in :54.4 en route to a convincing 10-1 victory in Monday’s $22,500 Preferred Handicap Pace at The Meadows.

Moving from fourth for Brett Miller, Jojo N Goliath wore down the leader, Johnny Z, and cleared near the three-quarters before drawing off to triumph by 2-1/4 lengths in 1:51.1. Pedro Island and Roadway each shot the Lightning Lane to be second and third, respectively.

Paul Kennedy trains Jojo N Goliath, a 4-year-old Keystone Raider-Jo Jo Cadet gelding who has won 10 races and $149,845 this year, for Daniel and Thomas Courtemanche.

Miller and Tony Hall each drove four winners on the 15-race card.

— Evan Pattak

Pompano Park
His connections had several anxious minutes after the field crossed under the wire but JJ’s Gazette survived a judges’ inquiry to become a repeat winner in the top pacing class at The Isle Casino-Racing Pompano Park. Driver Dan Clements had the 8-year-old Whiteland Fella-Almahurst Gazette gelding lurking in the pocket for the same trip as seven days ago in the $12,000 event for winners over $10,000 lifetime. Cutting the mile again this week was Bill On The Hill A in rein to Mike Micallef through the early fractions of :26.4, :55.4 and 1:24. After putting away the first over bid of Ideal Conditions with Doug Brown in the bike, Bill On The Hill A was tiring and bearing out to the middle of the track. When Clements guided JJ’s Gazette sharply to the pylons in mid-stretch for racing room he was clearly the strongest and no violation was found against a following rival, Flexjet, in rein to Walter Ross Jr. C A Marauder, partnered by Bruce Ranger, brushed up for the place prize from a second over trip and Flexjet was third. JJ’s Gazette is trained by David Mogan for owner Ken Freeman. The career winner of over $376,000 now has 42 lifetime wins to his credit.

Monticello Raceway
Mike Forte added to his career total of 2,812 driving victories when visited the Monticello Raceway winner’s circle five times on Monday. Forte, 52, began his career in 1977, spending most of his early years competing against the always strong driving colony at Yonkers and Roosevelt Raceways. In recent years he has been a staple, and a powerful one at that, at the Mighty M. Since 2005, Forte has reined 1,331 winners, most of them here at the Mighty M, and thus far this year Forte has driven 163 winners. He began Monday afternoon with a 2:00.4 triumph with Jack Hazan and Matt De Cillis’ trotter Rose Run Hot Rod in the second race and then proceeded to win the fourth with Powerhouse Racing’s pacer A M Firegirl in a 2:00 clocking. Forte’s next victory came behind C & F Associates’ pacer Mic Mac Molly in 1:58.3 and then he won the ninth with another of C & F Associates’ pacers, Lauren’s Joy, in a time of 1:59. Forte’s final triumph came in race 12 when he guided Anonio Diglio, Franco Rastelli and Anthony Libardi’s trotter Giant T to a 2:01.2 victory.