by John Manzi, publicity director, Monticello Raceway

Monticello, NY — The build-up concerning the confrontation between Russell Hill and Donttellmywife in New York Sire Stakes action at Monticello Raceway on June 2 was everything one could ask for, that is, unless if you were in the latter’s camp. It took every foot of the homestretch for Russell Hill and driver Jimmy Morrill, Jr to finally get up and collar the pace-setting Donttellmywife by a head in a proverbial stretch duel in their $35,843 division of the $178,000 NYSS stakes.

Geri Schwarz photo

Russell Hill collars Donttellmywife in the last strides.

Driver Jeff Gregory sent Donttellmywife to the lead from the pole position as Russell Hill took up the chase after leaving from post position eight.

Donttellmywife got a soft first quarter in 29:3 and to Gregory’s chagrin Morrill landed in the two-hole behind the leader. Both trotters raced one-two past the half in 1:00.1 and the order remained the same by the third stanza in 1:30.2. At that point Morrill moved Russell Hill out to challenge and the two raced side-by-side around the final turn as Spin Spanky Spin (Dan Daley) joined in the fray.

Russell Hill began to gain with every stride and when the two trotters neared the finish line they were nearly inseparable. But in the final strides Donttellmywife took a miss-step and went off-gait but according to the rail-birds Donttellmywife was beaten. Spin Spanky Spin finished third.

“We got away cheap and my colt was out-trotted at the finish,” Gregory admitted. “He took a bad step and stumbled near the wire but I think Russell Hill had us beaten anyway. We trotted the last quarter in :28:4 and we’ll get our money this year. We won’t always be in together.”

It marked the second consecutive time that Russell Hill has turned back Donttellmywife. The former outdid the latter by three-quarters of a length at Vernon Downs in 1:57.1 last week in the $206,275 Empire Breeders Classic Final.

Asked how good Russell Hill is and is he better than Donttellmywife, who defeated Russell Hill in their first of three confrontations this year, Morrill was reluctant to say much.

“They’re both good colts and I got a good trip. Today was my day,” Morrill said philosophically.

Russell Hill, a son of Conway Hall, now has banked over $130,000 this year for Canada owners Al Libfeld, Marvin Katz, and Sam Goldband.

Geri Schwarz photo

Rookie Mistake romped by three lengths.

It was the second driving victory in the NY Sire Stakes for Morrill. In a previous division he reined Jody Weidman’s son of CR Excaliber, Rookie Mistake, to a three-length victory in a time of 2:00 over Iron Will and driver Stephane Bouchard.

The afternoon got underway with odds-on favorite, Judge Joe scoring a 2:00.1 triumph in his $35,142 split for DR Ackerman. In from Hazel Park Raceway where the son of Credit Winner was victorious in 1:57.2, Ackerman, knowing he was the best, just had to just keep his colt on gait.

“I was a little cautious leaving the gate since this was his first start on a half-mile track,” Ackerman related in the winner’s circle after being joined by Dan and Audrey Henry, the breeders of the fine looking 3-year-old. “At the quarter when we got alongside Coal Daily I saw that (driver) Toby (Lynch) wanted to be on the front-end so popped Joe in a hole behind him and waited until late to challenge.”

And when Ackerman moved before the final turn he sat quietly as they rounded the bend and when his colt straightened in the lane Ackerman just fed Judge Joe his head and the colt trotted to an easy victory. Big Sky Domino and Tim Tetrick rallied to finish second while Coal Daily held on for the show dough.

Geri Schwarz photo

Judge Joe was too much for his competition.

Now two-for-two this year Judge Joe upped his lifetime bankroll to over $330,000 for the Doug Ackerman Stables, Inc. of Warren, MI.

In yet another division Steve Reisenweaver scored one for the little guys when he reined his own South Jersey Flash to a gutsy 1:59.2 victory which was the fastest clocking of the afternoon. The Credit Winner colt went wire-to-wire and had to rebuff challenges the entire way. They turned back Calchips Brute (Jimmy Morrill, Jr.) and Hitontheflipside (Tim Tetrick)

But the best –at least for the bettors—was saved for last when Stephane Bouchard guided Danger Hall up the passing lane to win in 2:02.1 at odds of 27-1 and returned $57.50 for the win. Combined with Kash N Credit (Clint Galbraith), the second place finisher, the 7-3 exacta paid $1,159.00. But it was the trifecta payoff that was the barn-burner when the 7-2-6 combination paid a whopping $10,898.00

Danger Hall, a son of Conway Hall is owned by Bob Rosenheim Stables LTD.