by John Manzi, publicity director, Monticello Raceway

Monticello, NY — On October 29, 2006, 19-year-old Jordan “the Kid” Stratton was the recipient of the 30th annual Max A. Brewer Award when the Monticello-Goshen Chapter of the U.S. Harness Writers Association held its 48th annual awards banquet at Kutsher’s Country Club in Monticello. That award, named in memory of the raceway’s former longtime announcer and publicity director is given annually to the best young driver at Monticello Raceway which Stratton certainly appeared to be.

And, in retrospect, the Chapter was right on the money. Stratton finished the 2006 season with 30 driving victories, which was arguably the most by any teenage harness driver in the United States that year.

Now fast forward to the 2007 racing season.

Stratton, now 20 years old — he left his teenage years on June 30 — is currently sixth on the Mighty M leaderboard and he has won many races at Yonkers Raceway and also was victorious a few times at the Meadowlands, which is arguably the most competitive racetrack as far as driving is concerned.

Racehorsephoto.com photo

When Jordan Stratton won the Monticello Raceway pacing feature with Lazy Running N on August 20, it marked his 91st victory at the Mighty M and 119th of the season.

After he reined Lazy Running N to a 1:56 victory on the Monticello Raceway Monday afternoon card of August 20, Stratton now has visited the Mighty M winner’s circle 91 times this year. He also finished second 89 times, has 88 third-place finishes, and his UDR is a very respectable .271.

Overall this season the youngster has currently reined 116 winners, has had 109 second-place finishes and 112 thirds. The horses that he has driven have already earned over $763,817 and the $1 million plateau should easily be surpassed before the curtain comes down on the 2007 campaign.

The son of Ottawa, Ohio, horseman Dave Stratton, and nephew of longtime Monticello Raceway top trainer Peter Stratton, it was only fitting that the 5’-11” 160 pounder would try a career in harness racing.

“I love the sport and hope to become a good all-around horseman,” Stratton told a reporter in an interview last fall. He also added that he’d really like to become a top catch-driver some day which seems to have already come to pass in just 10 months.

Local trainers are currently availing themselves of Stratton’s talents and he is responding well and winning plenty of races for them.

Monticello Raceway’s Director of Racing Eric Warner is also high on “the Kid’s” ability.

“Jordan has already displayed a great talent for driving and even at his age he can handle himself with the best of them. He proves that every time he is in the sulky,” Warner said. “Besides that, he is also a fine young man. He’s polite and cordial and he comes from a good family. As long as he keeps doing what he’s currently doing and keeps his act together, the sky is the limit for him.”

Even now, with his instantaneous success, “The Kid” carries on as he did when he was just starting out. He hasn’t let his accomplishments go to his head. He remains quiet, walks softly and lets his driving prowess do his speaking.