17 to go for the gold at Monticello

There’s gold in them there Catskills and on Monday 17 world-class sophomore pacers will be out to get their share of it when they compete in two $25,000 elimination divisions of the $528,000 Monticello Gold Rush. On paper it appears Kenneth J is the one to beat in the first elim, while Takeshigemichi leads the pack in the second split.

Headlining the first division are three New York-bred pacers: Ken Jacobs' Kenneth J; Z Tam Racing’s Forensic Z Tam; and Kidz LLC's Pop Z Pop.

Kenneth J, one of the most outstanding freshman pacers last season, has continued his excellent ways this year with earnings already in excess of $253,000. From his three seasonal victories--in seven starts--his fastest was a 1:50:4 clocking at Vernon Downs on June 23.

Ron Pierce will be at the controls when the speedy son of Bettors Delight starts from the five hole on July 23.

But another pair of sophomore New York breds also come into the Gold Rush elims off recent convincing half-mile track victories right here at the Mighty M  in New York Sire Stakes action.

Forensic Z Tam has bankrolled over $319,000 this season and the son of Bettors Choice was an easy 1:54.2 winner at the Mighty M against Sire Stakes rivals on July 11. And Pop Z Pop, a son of Riverboat King, showed some pop when he scored a  1:54.1 triumph in his division of the NYSS here also on July 11. Pat Lachance will be at the controls behind the former who’ll start from the coveted rail position and Stephane Bouchard will drive the latter and leave from the three hole.

Lightning Stables' Takeshigemichi, who gets around the double oval with the best of them, is arguably the one to beat in the second split, a nine-horse  field, carded as the 10^th race of the program. The son of The Panderosa won the Cleveland Classic in 1:52.4 over the half-mile track at Northfield Park in Ohio. Brian Sears will be in the sulky when Takeshigemichi starts from post position four.

But trouble looms for Takeshigemichi in the presence of Val D’or Farms' Fresh Deck, a son of Cam's Card Shark and a seven-time winner already this year with earnings in excess of $337,000, who has drawn the nine hole and will start in the second tier with Hall of Fame driver John Campbell in the pilot's seat. Fresh Deck, owns a 1:49.4 record taken at the Meadowlands on June 2, and has seven wins in 15 seasonal starts.

The first division lines up as follows:  Forenzic T Zam (#1-Pat Lachance); Running Book (#2-Mark MacDonald); Pop Z Pop (#3-Stephane Bouchard); Ghee’s House (#4-Yannick Gingras); Hot Rod Mindale (#5-George Brennan); Kenneth J (#6-Ron Pierce); Pandoras Sox (#7-Andy Miller); and Hagi (#8-Jimmy Morrill Jr.).

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