Monticello photo

Zeke Parker had five wins on Monday at Monticello.

Parker began the day with a 1:58.4 triumph behind Bob Heimstra’s fine looking sophomore pacer Sharp Shuttle and then waited until the fifth race to reel off three-in-a-row.

He won the fifth with Bill Hinckley’s pacing mare On Fantasy Island in a 2:00.4 clocking and came right back in the next race to score a 2:01.4 triumph with Karlyn Farms Estates’ pacer, Karlyns Sarah B.

In the seventh race Zeke reined Vincent Grippa’s pacing mare Sports Ball to a 1:58.1 victory and capped his day with a 2:01.1 trotting victory with Stormont Reception for owner Joe Perry’s Racing Stable.

With those five driving victories Parker inches closer to the 10,000-win plateau, currently with 9,617.

— John Manzi

Anderson scores in Mildred Williams Series at Plainridge

Norwood, MA — Plainridge Racecourse welcomed the return of the Mildred Williams Driving Series to help defeat Breast Cancer, with a field of nine lady drivers going postward in the race.

The odds on favorite was Satin Time N with Dawn Anderson in the bike and she did not let her backers down by leaving from the one hole and taking up in the two hole position behind the leader TJ Force and Jolene Andrews as they hit the quarter in a swift :27.4 and continued that way to the half in :58.1. They headed to the three-quarters with the two of them still one-two and passed the three-quarter marker in 1:28.2.

Plainridge photo

The Mildred Williams drivers pose for a photo after competing at Plainridge. Third from the right is Dawn Anderson, the winner, and second from the right is Bonnie Rush, the runner-up.

Anderson slipped around the leader in the final quarter and was able to draw off to win the race in 1:57.3, followed by a fast closing Bonnie Rush aboard Mr Douglas, who picked up the place spot, while Andrews and TJ Force took home the show spot.

Anderson and Satin Time N went to the winner’s circle where they were presented the winner’s trophy and a big congratulations from track’s COO Gary Piontkowski and General Manager Steve O’Toole. Along with the trophy was a check in the amount of $500 in Anderson’s name to the charity. Rush, the second place finisher, also received a trophy and a check in her name for $250 was made out to the charity. The race was a huge success for the charity.

Another highlight on the Monday card was a three bagger for driver Mike Eaton. He scored in the first race with Hey Big Fred in 1:56.1, paying $15.20; the ninth race with GB’s Li’l Misfit in 1:56.1, paying $2.80; and the 11th race with Four Starz Search, paying $12.20.

Not to be overlooked was Wally Watson’s three bagger, beginning in the third race with Diamonds R Forever in 2:01.1, paying $21.60; continuing in the seventh race with Pacific Sonata in 1:56, paying $5.00; and concluding in the tenth race with Tropical Kidd K in 2:02.4, paying $7.60.

— Robert Lieberman

Williams, Melnichenko win Billings races at Mohawk

Monticello, NY — Not only did “Tar Heel Tom” Williams win the biggest overnight purse in the C.K.G. Billings Amateur Driving Series thus far this season at Mohawk Racetrack on Monday, he reined one of the fastest winners when he guided Senator Dalton to an explosive 1:56.4 trotting victory in his $12,000 division.

Vladimir “Butch” Melnichenko, a builder by trade from Fly Creek, N.Y., won the $10,000 split with a wire-to-wire, 1:59.4 performance behind Newlook Bayama.

Williams, a businessman from North Carolina, who was the National Amateur Driver of the Year in 2008, seems to be picking up where he left off last season by driving his second victory in as many Billings starts.

Sent off as the second choice in his event, Williams gunned Senator Dalton to the lead from post six and played ‘catch me if you can.’ And nobody could as the 6-year-old Credit Winner stallion, owned by Tracy Brainard, romped away to an amazing 10 length victory. Joe “Bearcat” Stutzman, tried to take up the chase with Rowdy but they couldn’t catch the winner and had to settle for second money. Idle Sun N, with Sherwin “Smiley” Edwards aboard, took home the show dough.

Melnichenko used the same strategy as Williams did when he sent his trotter Newlook Bayama to the front. They had a six length lead at the three-quarters in a time of 1:27.2, but even though the 6-year-old Bloc Strength gelding, owned by Joe Ruppel, tired he was still a length better than runner-up In For A Treat, handled by Tony “the Capo” Verruso. D Double U finished third for “Dynamite Dave” Drew, just a head behind Verruso’s trotter.

Thus far in this season of Billings action, Steve “You’re Never Too” Oldford and Todd “the Downeaster” Whitney are tied for the point lead, each with 28. They’re followed closely by Tom Williams (27), Joltin’ Joe” Pennacchio (26) and Dave Offenberg (25).

Next Billings action will be at Freehold Raceway on Friday, June 5.