by John Manzi, publicity director, Monticello Raceway

Monticello, NY — Quietly, and without much fanfare, Monticello Raceway has had a pacing series for $4,000 claimers which will culminate on Thursday, Jan. 28, with a $9,300 final for horses and geldings and a $7,300 final for fillies and mares.

The Sherry Lutman Memorial covered three weeks of preliminary events with finals for both genders on this, the fourth week. The highest point earners in each division earned a berth in the finales.

Favored in the horse and gelding finale is the Todd Marciano-trained entry of Merle’s Boy and Radical Reaction while in the filly and mare final the Carl Gillispie-trained duo of Julie Julie and Magic Z Tam get the early line nod.

The Maricano-trainees collectively have had five wins and one second in their preliminary starts with Merle’s Boy undefeated in the series. His fastest victory, a 1:58.3 effort, came last week and though Billy Dobson has driven him in each prelim, talented newcomer Brandon Simpson will handle the driving chores when the pacer starts from post position seven.

Dobson opted to drive Radical Reaction, whom he guided to a 1:58.2 victory in the series on Jan. 14. They’ll start from the coveted pole position.

Both pacers are owned by Jack and Rose Deluca.

All but two pacers in the horse and gelding division were winners in their last series outing. The other two both finished second in the last start but were previous series winners.

In the filly and mare division, Julie Julie was undefeated and is currently riding a four race win skein. Her fastest clocking has been in 1:59.3. Jimmy Marohn will drive when the 8-year-old mare leaves from post three.

Stablemate Magic Z Tam won two of three series prelims. Her 2:00.3 victory last week was her fastest. Kyle DiBenedetto will be in the sulky when the Camluck mare starts from post position seven.

Though the entry is favored the Lisa Krom-trained Summer Vacation has three victories in her last three series starts, the fastest a 1:58.3 clocking on Jan. 14. Mike Forte has the driving assignment behind the Elisha Lafreniere-owned pacer.

Also on tap are a pair of $3,200 consolations for the next highest point earners in their respective divisions in the series.

The series was named for the late Sherry Lutman who was a longtime owner and among the track’s leading trainers prior to her illness and passing.

The horse and gelding final will be race one on the 13-race card with the filly and mare final slated as race four. The consolations will be contested later on the card as races eight and 10.

First post will be at 12:25 p.m.