Dr. King Pace posts drawn

Monticello Raceway's 2007 Heritage Driver Series kicks off Friday afternoon with the sixth edition of the Dr Martin Luther King Jr Pace, featuring the talents of drivers of African-American heritage.

“’Normally we would present this race on Jan. 15, the actual date of Dr. King’s birth, but we are not racing on that Monday afternoon this year so it was decided to present the event on Friday, Jan. 12,” said Monticello Raceway general manager Shawn Wiles.

A field of eight are set to battle in the MLK Pace which is slated as race number two on the track's 13-race card on Friday afternoon. Featured in the contest is consummate horseman George Teague Jr., who has developed many champions including the great Rainbow Blue.

Noted primarily as a trainer, Teague, who will travel in from Delaware, does drive occasionally but usually limits it to qualifying races where he gets his top class stock ready for catch-drivers. On Friday he has drawn Chai Sign, a 1:54:1 winner last year at Pocono Downs, and will start from post position seven.

In what appears to be a well-balanced field, Freehold N.J.'s Dennis Watson has drawn the morning line favorite in Three Finger Brown who comes into the contest off a 2:02:4 victory in his last start. hey’ll start from the fourth position.

Local teamster Bobby Williams Jr., with Scoleala A is in a good position to make a serious challenge. Dropping down in class, Scoleala A will start from post position three.

Of the drivers set to compete only two are local; those being Williams and Donald Simmonds. James Ofarrow and George Newell Jr. will come in from New York City and Watson and Allan Johnson will come up from Freehold, N.J. Teague, and George Polk Jr, will travel in from Delaware.

The field, with drivers in post position order lines up as follows: All My Mite (#1-James Ofarrow); Quick Yankee (#2-Donald Simmonds); Scoleala A (#3-Bobby Williams Jr.); Three Finger Brown (#4-Dennis Watson); Richies Dream (#5- George Polk, Jr.); Cable Beach (#6- George Newell, Jr.); Chai Sign (#7-George Teague, Jr.) and Herb Albert (#8-Allan Johnson)

Driving assignments, like post positions, were drawn by lottery.

Post time on Friday is 12:40 p.m. The pacers in the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial will be called to post at 1p.m. (Monticello)

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