by John Manzi, publicity director, Monticello Raceway

Monticello, NY — Monticello Raceway’s $7,500 Au Revoir on New Year’s Eve Day saw three pacers rush to the finish line not much more than heads apart and when the finish line camera tripped, Satin Time N emerged victorious in a time of 1:59.3 in the race exclusively for 14-year-olds.

Satin Time N crossed the finish line in a time of 1:59.3 in the Au Revoir.

When the official order was posted, Satin Time N, driven by Greg Merton, emerged victorious and turned back Am I Next A and Zeke Parker while Uphill Battle, handled by Jamie Dunlap, was a close third.

Parker set sail with Am I Next A from post position six and cut fractions of :30, 1:00.2 and 1:29.2 while leading the other five pacers and one trotter around the double oval. Satin Time N enjoyed a two-hole journey until the final turn at which point Merton moved him to the outside and they wore down the leader and held off Uphill Battle who rallied down the passing lane.

“I was in the spot I wanted to be,” Merton said after his victory. “This old horse (Satin Time N) can still cut it. It’s too bad that he can’t race anymore!”

The winner, a foreign-bred altered son of Cameleon, notched his 15th seasonal victory for owner-trainer and usual driver Dawn Anderson of Colts Neck, N.J.

Geri Schwarz photos

Monticello Raceway’s Director of Racing Eric Warner presents the Au Revoir trophy to Greg Merton and Dawn Anderson.

Anderson, who has driven her pacer in nearly every one of his seasonal starts was asked why she decided to hand the lines to Greg Merton in Satin Time N’s final appearance. While trying to hold her horse in the winner’s circle and covering his left eye so he wouldn’t shy from the white-colored blanket (in the presentation) she said lightheartedly, “I’ve been here (in Monticello) during the wintertime in the past and I know the weather is certainly not to my liking.”

And then she explained why she was trying to cover the horse’s eye. “He’s (Satin Time N) afraid of a white blanket,” she added.

The race had attracted horses from Ohio, upstate New York and New Jersey and an early morning snowstorm in the Catskills nearly KO’d the event. However, the snow stopped falling around noon but any hopes of a good turnout were snuffed since travel in the northeast was treacherous.

One trotter, Numberonefan, was an early scratch which reduced the field to six, but all the others made their way to the Mighty M as did some died-in-the-wool fans, Chris Bradt and his sister Tracy, who drove in this morning from Toronto.

Having bred Uphill Battle and a devoted follower of the pacer’s exploits, the Bradts traveled often to watch him race and they figured that they’d make the trip to Monticello to see the pacer’s final start. And since they traveled hundreds of miles, and despite the fact that Uphill Battle finished third, they were included in the blanket presentation to the winner.

“Paul (Gillenwater, the owner-trainer of Uphill Battle) told us that they will breed a few mares with him now that he’s forced into retirement,” Chris said when asked what happens to the old stallion after the race.

That question was posed to Dawn Anderson also, and she said somewhat dolefully, “I would like to race him (Satin Time N) in amateur races but I’m not sure where I can. Plainridge and Rockingham (amateurs) told me if he’s entered they won’t enter against him, so for now I’ll take him home and turn him out for a while and then reassess his (future) chances of racing. Oh, but don’t worry, if he doesn’t get a chance to race again he’ll live the rest of his life in total comfort. I love this old guy!”