Almost eight months ago the veteran pacer Carlspur flirted with death at the large animal hospital at New Bolton Center and on Tuesday the 11 year old flirted with victory in his first start back at Monticello Raceway as he finished second in the $11,300 winners-over pace.
The $882,000 lifetime winner was driven by Matt Romano, who gunned the ole campaigner to the lead and then yeilded to Skeeter Todd and driver Ray Schnittker, at the quarter pole in a swift :27.4. Schnittker kept the pedal to the metal and Skeeter Todd passed the half mile marker in :56.4 with Carlspur snug on his helmet.
The order was still the same at the three-quarters in 1:25.4 and at the top of the lane when the field headed for home Romano found room up the passing lane. But Carlspur showed signs of being idle and the pacer failed to pick up any ground on Skeeter Todd, though he held his position and finished second, just a length behind the winner in a swift 1:54.3 clocking. Carlspur, who hadn’t raced since Oct. 31, 2006--except for a qualifier at Freehold Raceway on June 8--pleased his connections with his effort in which he was individually clocked in 1:54.4. When contacted in paddock and asked about how Carlspur was, Romano said, “He ( Carlspur) seemed good and raced real well but he needed that start.” Co-owner Tom Trezza, along with his friend Nick Surick, were on hand to witness the horse’s comeback. "Carlspur was brilliant and I’m on cloud nine right now,” Trezza said. "He was competing on a pretty high level--it’s amazing what he did. He looked like the old Carl. I guess the word is proud. It was a proud feeling throughout the day especially when the "He came out of the race great," Trezza added. “I saw him afterward and he looked like a million bucks. Just like any great athlete, he doesn’t show his age.” (Monticello)
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