by John Manzi, publicity director, Monticello Raceway

Monticello, NY — Last Saturday Goshen Historic Track held its annual Youth Day in conjunction with the matinee racing program there and though it wasn’t listed as such Monticello Raceway had a youth day of its own when young turks Jordan Stratton, Jason Bartlett and Jimmy Marohn, Jr. dominated the racing program on Tuesday, June 10.

Stratton, back in action after a short vacation, won three races on the program and continues to lead the driving colony here with 140 wins. Stratton, who’ll turn 21 on June 30, scored a 1:56.3 victory with Charles Strukel’s Gemini Jon in the second race and then won the fourth with Bill Emmons’ Big League Barry in a 1:56.2 clocking. His hat trick triumph came behind Ellen Hauer and Karen Weintraub’s General Maximus N in 1:56.3 in the seventh race.

In the fifth race, prior to his victory with General Maximus N, Stratton got dumped out when his pacer Jilliby Sprit A and Mighty Fella (Jason Ricco) hooked wheels. Stratton hit the dirt but bounced back and drove the next race.

That race was won by Jason Bartlett, up behind Scott Dillon’s Ideal Conditions in a 1:54.3 clocking. Bartlett, the latest phenomenon to come out of New England, is currently atop the Yonkers Raceway leaderboard.

It was one of three driving victories for Bartlett. He also won the pacing feature with Scott Dillon’s O’Rourke Three in 1:54.1 and started the afternoon with a 1:54.3 with Scott Pushard’s gray ghost, Off Keel.

And 26-year-old Jimmy Marohn, Jr. scored a victory with Antonia and Maria Grillo’s Terrific Seven in a time of 1:58.

Of the nine races on the Tuesday card the youngsters combined for seven wins.