by John Manzi, publicity director, Monticello Raceway

Monticello, NY — Before Jordan Stratton ever laid eyes on Monticello Raceway his uncle, Peter Stratton, had been a regular here since 1991.

By his own admission the 6-foot, 220-pounder isn’t the best driver in the business and doesn’t usually sit behind his stock, instead using his training prowess which quietly has established him as one of the premier conditioners here at the Mighty M.

Year-in and year-out Peter Stratton’s name is near the top on the local training leaderboard and over the years he has harnessed almost 1,100 winners, the vast majority right here.

Racing mostly claimers and using the top catch-drivers Stratton’s barn usually doesn’t stay the same very long.

“I put them in where I think they can win and if they’re not competitive I’ll drop ’em down to a class in which they can win,” Stratton says. “I may lose some horses (in claiming races) but there are plenty of others out there.

“And then there are times that I spot a horse that’s worth more than his claiming tag and I’ll check him out and if all goes right I’ll add that horse to my (stable) roster. Some years I get a big turn over in racing stock.”

Geri Schwarz photo

Behind Enemy Lines made it three-in-a-row on May 12 for new owner Mike D’Abbraccio.

Like many other trainers Stratton is always on the lookout for a claiming bargain and he found one recently in Behind Enemy Lines. Two years ago the 8-year-old Electric Yankee gelding was among the winningest horses in North America with 18 seasonal victories. However, last season the pacer’s output was relegated to six triumphs in 36 starts.

And this season Behind Enemy Lines has retuned to the form he possessed in 2007. With five wins under his belt before the month of May Stratton convinced his patron Mike D’Abbraccio that Behind Enemy Lines would be a good investment for the $7,500 claiming tag that he was in for. So on May 22 Stratton and D’Abbraccio plunked down $7,500 and took Behind Enemy Lines to their barn.

Since that day they raced the pacer three times and each race resulted in a victory. On April 28 Behind Enemy Lines scored in 1:57.3 and the pacer followed with a 1:57.4 triumph on May 5.

Then in his most recent start — on Tuesday, May 12 — the Stratton-trained steed was again victorious, this time in a 1:57 clocking. With that victory Behind Enemy Lines now has eight seasonal triumphs in 13 starts and five wins in his last six races. He currently ranks among the leading equine winners this season.

And who was in the sulky for those three winning trips for trainer Stratton? None other than Billy “Zeke” Parker, Jr., who has been on a tear lately. He’s been on such a winning streak that Zeke has vaulted to the top on the local leaderboard, a place in which, over the years, the bearded-wonder had been accustomed to being in.

The victory with Behind Enemy Lines was just one of three on the May 12 card for Parker. He also scored a 1:58.3 victory with Mary Beauregard’s Financial Aid in the second race and then Zeke won the fourth race with Dennis Miller’s Solitaire in a 1:59 clocking.