Bouchard wins Victoria Pace

The memory of the late Don Karkos, “the Monticello Miracle,” was resurrected Monday at Monticello Raceway when his family and friends joined in a ceremony and dedication in the winners circle after the feature race on the Monday afternoon card.

That contest, the weekly $14,300 Mares Preferred Pace, named in honor of Karkos, was won by Alexi Killean, in from Yonkers Raceway and with Greg Grismore at the controls.

Alexi Killean, who had no trouble winning her last outing at Yonkers Raceway in 1:53.2,  had an even easier time in the Mighty M feature after Grismore kept her at the back of the pack during the first half of the mile and then wheeled her three deep up the backstretch and the Run The Table 5 year old passed horses like a freight train passes hobos.

In the final turn Alexi Killean drew even with the pacesetter Casino Miss (Stephane Bouchard) and when the two mares straightened for home Grismore said goodbye to Bouchard and Alexi Kellean rumbled on to a three-length triumph in a time of 1:56.1. Longshot (33-1) Bambina’s Sorella, in rein to Matt Romano, finished second and though Ms. Raider (Larry Stalbaum) made up four lengths in the stretch she still finished  four lengths behind the winner in third place. Casino Miss faded and finished fourth.

Alexi Killean is owned by Gerrie Tucker of Montreal, Que. and trained by Nat Varty. She paid $4.40 for win.

The family of Karkos, along with horsemen and friends, joined in the winner's circle ceremony which turned out to be a tribute to Karkos, the paddock security guard who regained sight in his right eye after sustaining a knock on his head  when he  was harnessing a horse named My Buddy Chimo last fall. When  his good fortune came to light a local daily paper called it  “the Monticello Miracle” and after that Karkos’ story went worldwide.

Part celebration and part eulogy the Karkos tribute ended with the words, “How could such a feel good story end so wrong?”

On that card, too, was the fourth annual race for drivers of Canadian heritage, called the Victoria Day Pace mainly because it was presented on Canada’s Victoria Day, which this year fell on May 21.

As he has done in each of the previous contests for Canadian drivers, Stephan Bouchard emerged victorious when he scored a two-length triumph with Victory Chant in a time of 2:00.3.

Victory Chant started from post five and Bouchard fired her to the lead which they gained after Travis Bowman, driving Noreturn Nodeposit, yielded command. From there it was catch me if you can and nobody could as Bouchard kept Victory Chant unchallenged on the front end and they finished an easy two-length winner over Keystone Saturate, driven by Jason MacDougall.

Sensuous Woman in rein to Bruce Borden rallied in the lane to photo-out Noreturn Nodeposit for the show dough.

 The winner, owned by former Monticello Raceway “Owner of the Year” Woody Hoblizell and trained by April Aldrich, paid $5.70 for win. (Monticello)

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