by John Manzi, publicity director, Monticello Raceway

Monticello, NY — The 21st edition of Monticello Raceway’s Little Grey Jug, the race for grey and roan colored pacers, will go to post on Tuesday (September 20).

Favored in the contest, despite having to start from the eight hole, is Trigger Finger, a Gunthatwonthewest 3-year-old grey gelding who comes into the event off a 1:52.2 victory in the Stan Bergstein Pace at at Plainridge Racecourse on September 5. Prior to that win on a big oval, Trigger Finger was competing with decent success at Yonkers Raceway.

Trained by Leonard LeBlanc and owned by Noella LeBlanc and Don Emond, Trigger Finger will be coming in from Massachusetts for the event. But he is not alone as most of the other competitors will be vanning in from out of town. LeBlanc has pegged Bruce Aldrich, Jr. with the driving assignment.

Jaguar Jet, the defending champion who won this race last year in the mud in 2:01.1, will be coming in from New Jersey. Owned by Melvin Fink, Clifford Grundy and Anna Glide, the Nick Surick pupil has a seasonal record of 1:54.3 at Freehold earlier this year. Pat Berry will handle the driving chores and will leave from the seven hole.

In from Pennsylvania is Jamey Kinn and Jason Robinson’s Caiden’s Colt, a 1:53 winner at Pocono Downs last summer. Robinson trains and will hand the lines to Zeke Parker, who by the way, won the Mighty M’s first-ever Little Grey Jug with Royal Emperor in 1990. Caiden’s Colt drew the four hole.

Coming in from Maryland is Sowhatsyourpoint, a 1:55.3 winner at Dover Downs this year. Jordan Stratton will drive for the Thomson Sisters Racing Stable and leaves from post position six.

Local pacer Lillywhites, a 6-year-old daughter of the great grey mare White Ruffles, is owned by Sally Kimelman and will start from the five hole with hubby Mike Kimelman aboard. She has won in 1:58.3 here at the Mighty M and her latest victory was a 2:02 clocking at Yonkers Raceway in one of their 1-1/16 mile contests.

Rounding out the field are Martin Goldin’s Get Well form the rail; Woody Hoblitzell’s Roan Shark from the two hole; and Tony Mazzeo and Jim Tumia’s Big Rueben from post three. Big Reuben was second to Jaguar Jet in last year’s Little Grey Jug.

The Little Grey Jug will go to post in race number five on Tuesday’s 13-race card. First race post time will be at the usual 12:50 p.m.