by harness publicists across North America

Wednesday’s (Oct. 2) edition of Racing Roundup features results stories from The Meadows and Monticello Raceway.

Red Maple Lane repeats in Meadows Series; Palone wins six

Washington, PA — Red Maple Lane zipped to the lead and jogged off to an easy victory — his second straight in the series — In Wednesday’s (Oct. 22) late-closing event for freshman colt and gelding trotters at The Meadows. Guy Fox took the other $12,500 second-leg split. The series final is set for Saturday, Nov. 1.

Once on the lead, Red Maple Lane easily thwarted the tepid first-over challenge of Grana Padanno and scored for Doug Snyder in 1:58.4, 2-1/4 lengths better than the pocket-sitting Massive Storm. Grana Padanno saved show. Lisa Martin trains the SJ’s Caviar-Lane Bryant gelding, who was ahead at every call in his two series wins, for Mary Martin, Roger Dirlam and Maple Ridge Stable.

Guy Fox pulled the pocket before the three-quarters, put away Bambam Lauxmont and triumphed in 2:00.2 for Ray Paver and trainer Steve Bush, who owns the Glidemaster-Classical Mary gelding with Dennis Fassett and Alvira Fassett. Massive Winner was a ground-saving second, 3/4 lengths back, while Orchids And Ale rallied for show.

Dave Palone drove six winners on the 15-race card.

— Evan Pattak

Monticello Raceway
Bruce Aldrich Jr. and Jimmy Marohn Jr. have been tough to beat on the racetrack and not leaving much for their competitors thus far this week at Monticello Raceway. On Wednesday Aldrich won five races on the 10 race card which was just what Marohn did on the Tuesday program. And checking the Monday results one will find Aldrich’s name atop four winners that day, too.

“I’m a lucky guy getting first call to drive for trainer Bob Lounsbury,” Aldrich said after Wednesday’s card was completed. “When I get up behind a horse that he trains I know I have a chance to win.”

Aldrich began the soggy afternoon by winning the first race with Move Blue Chip ($2.60) in 1:59.3 for Bob, John and James Dill. Then Aldrich didn’t get his picture taken again until he won the sixth race with Go Go Buckeye ($7.10) for owner Woody Hoblitzell in time of 1:59.3. Aldrich came right back to cop the seventh with the Philip Schultz-owned and Bob Lounsbury-trained Vincent Fra ($3.60) in 1:58.1 which marked the claiming pacer’s 15th seasonal triumph. After finishing third in the eighth race Aldrich then proceeded to win the final two on the card. He won the ninth with Gray Thunder Stable’s The Perfect Dream ($6.50) in 2:02.3 and then romped to victory in the finale with Phillip Schultz’s trotter Scottish Cross ($2.30) in 1:59.2, another Lounsbury pupil.

Both Aldrich and Marohn have the luxury of driving for the top stables on the grounds, the former for Bob Lounsbury and the latter for Danny Gill.

Jimmy Marohn Jr. did win a race on the card with the Gill-trained Talldarknhandsome ($3.70) in 1:59.3 for owners Ed and James Hall. And speaking of Gill, the next win from his barn will be his 1,000th as a trainer.

Aldrich leads the local driving colony currently with 294 winners while Marohn is third best with 167. And both rank nationally; Aldrich’s 493 wins places him sixth on the North American leaderboard while Marohn’s 290 ranks him 25th.