Monticello, NY – Another compact field of six went to post over the Monticello half-mile oval on Monday (March 2) afternoon and even in this small field, a speed duel ensued.

Vaganova (Chris Doherty) used his speed and took control from his rail position and wasn’t letting anyone get to the top. That left Project Rock (Roy Marohn), who couldn’t get a hole, hung on the outside and he was never able to get to the front. The fractions were reasonable for this group (28.2/58.1).

Doherty had another challenger at the half as Joe Lee tried a three-wide “blitz” aboard Zone Blitz just after the half. He was able to move into second but faded to third in the stretch.

Sitting at the back of the pack for a majority of the mile, GSY Series President Dave Yarock, driving That’s Official, slowly moved off the pylons into the two path and then three wide around the final turn. He was able to maintain his momentum and go on for the victory by just under a length.

It was Yarock’s second straight week that he posed for the winner’s circle photo at Monticello and when called to comment on his latest triumph, he didn’t have words and instead passed the phone to his trainer, Dawn Deveaux, who said, “he’s a nice little horse.”

Short and sweet but they will take another win to the barn and bank. Speaking of money, his backers were delighted to a $24.80 return for every $2 win ticket as he was a big overlay 11-1, especially coming off his previous win the week before. The mile was timed in 1:59.0. The 7-year-old gelding is out of Art Official, is owned by Yarock himself.

The GSY Series will continue its circuit this Friday (March 6) at the Meadowlands and move to Thursday’s starting next week at Monticello Raceway.