by John Manzi, publicity director, Monticello Raceway

Don Torpid’s record is still in tact.

Though the 12 year old altered son of Vintner, Country Duke A, flirted with Monticello Raceways track record on Tuesday, February 15 he fell just one race short of equaling the mark of nine wins-in-a-row set by the Walter Case Jr.- driven pacer during the 1983 campaign.

In his quest to equal the 22 year old standard, the Australian-bred Country Duke A finished third in a 2:01:1 clocked mile over a racetrack rated heavy (at that time) after the previous nights rain fall.

A Star is Born, with Greg Merton at the controls, won the race after he shadowed the front-running Country Duke A the entire way and then charged by him in the deep stretch when the old campaigner tired. Even Western Sakra , driven by Mike Merton, rallied to finish second.

Country Duke A, owned by Leonard Vono of Lyndenhurst, NY, had been victorious in each of his last eight races and hadn’t tasted defeat since November 2^nd of last year. Each time he competed in $4000 claiming events but on Tuesday he was entered with a $5,000 claiming tag and the move-up in class appeared to be the straw that broke the camel’s back.

“He raced his usual race(on the front-end) but the deep going must have taken a toll on the old guy and he tied in the stretch,” Devaux said. “Winning nine races in a row at one racetrack is a tough task. We didn’t make that ninth (victory) in a row but we have nothing to be ashamed of.”