by John Manzi, publicity director, Monticello Raceway

MONTICELLO, NY – Some of the nation’s most outstanding sophomore pacing fillies, including arguably the cream of the crop, Southwind Tempo, will be on hand to compete in three $20,000 elimination divisions of Monticello Raceways $288,000 Lady Catskill Pace on Wednesday afternoon, June 27.

The elimination events are slated as races one, five and eight on the track’s 13-race card that day.

photo courtesy of racehorsephoto.com

Southwind Tempo has strung together seven consecutive victories and will come into her Lady Catskill elimination off a 1:49:3 world record performance.

Southwind Tempo has virtually been unbeatable this season. After finishing second in her first start the daughter of Bettor’s Delight has strung together seven consecutive victories and will come into her Lady Catskill elimination off a 1:49:3 world record performance in the James Lynch Memorial at Pocono Downs on June 16

Southwind Tempo didn’t begin racing until late in her 2-year-old season when she started in, and won, a qualifying race at Dover Downs on October 26, 2006 in 1:58:3. Then, nine days later, she won her first pari-mutuel start in a 1:55.1 clocking at Dover Downs and was victorious in all of her three starts as a freshman.

She began her sophomore year at the Meadowlands with a 1:54.2 victory on January 31and then won her second start there in 1:56.3. She tasted defeat—her only one this far of her career—in her next outing after she finished second by a head to Striptease Hall– also at the Meadowlands– on February 21. But after that Southwind Tempo notched seven consecutive victories and she has currently won purses totaling $355,872.

Southwind Tempo was developed by her owner Alton “Toby” Lynch who then sold part interest in her to former New York Jets wide receive Wayne Chrebet in late April.

On Wednesday, June 27, Southwind Tempo will start from post position four in the third and final elimination division — race 8 — of Monticello Raceway’s Lady Catskill Pace with Tim Tetrick at the controls once again. That division is arguably the toughest of the three.

In against her are the outstanding fillies, Current Hanover (Post 7- George Brennan-) a 1:50.3 winner with $127,176 in purses; and Western Graduate (Post 1-Yannicjk Gingras) a 1:53.3 winner with a $45,972 bankroll this far this season.

The first Lady Catskill split — race one– features Larry Roman’s outstanding filly, Paula’s Best. The daughter of Pro Bono Best was a 1:51.3 winner at Tioga Downs in the $132,625 New York- bred Classic Final on May 2. Eric Goodell will handle the driving chores and start from post six in their Lady Catskill elimination.

The other division — race 5– pits a bevy of top sophomore sidewheelers; Philadelphia (post 4- Tim Tetrick); a 1:53.3 winner at the Meadows; Tidewaterdragonfly (post 5- Dave Palone), a 1:52.3 winner at the Meadows;Vain In Spain (post 7- Andy Miller) a 1:56 winner at Freehold Raceway; and the lightly raced, but very impressive, Bolero Tallia.

That latter, a daughter of Art’s Conquest , has already toured the Mighty M oval in 1:55.2 on June 18 and will be driven by Daniel Dube and start from post position two..

The $222,250 Final which will be raced on the following Wednesday, July 4, will be comprised of the first two finishers in each division, along with two of the three third place finishers. The third place finisher, who will be drawn out by lot, will become the also eligible in the Final.

The first division line up as follows: JK pure Pearl (#1-Tim Tetrick): Omen Hanover (#2-Daniel Dube); Western Montana (#3-Dave Palone); Trinity Islands (#4-David Miller); Top Shelf Hanover (#5-Greg Merton); Paula’s Best (#6-Eric Goodell); and U All BB (#7- no driver listed).

The second split is as follows: Pop Diva (#1-Larry Stalbaum); Bolero Tallia (#2-Daniel Dube); JK Let It Ride (#3-Greg Grismore); Philadelphia (#4-Tim Tetrick); Tidewaterdragonfly (#5-Dave Palone); Pacific Classic (#6- no driver); and Vain In Spain (#7-Andy Miller).

The final division lines up as follows: Western Graduate (#1-Yannick Gingras); JD’s Lady Lynn (#2- Andy Miller); Yasmeen Blue Chip (#3- no driver); Southwind Tempo (#4-Tim Tetrick); Streetcarnamedsire (#5- no driver); Mind Boggling (#6-David Miller); and Current Hanover (#7-George Brennan).

First post on the Wednesday June 27^th card will be at 1:10 p.m.