Fast miles at Monti

With $90,700 in purse money offered on Monticello Raceway’s Tuesday race card, it’s a given that better-class horses were competing on the 12-race program. The fastest mile of the afternoon was turned in by Daylon Trooper, who won the $15,000 Preferred Handicap Pace in a time of 1:54:4.

But Daylon Trooper’s clocking wasn’t the only fast mile of the afternoon. Skeeter Todd was victorious in 1:55:1 in a $20,000 optional claiming pace and Kurt Rustler wrangled the $12,500 winners-over pace in 1:56.

It’s always been a rarity in these parts to have a horse win in a time of 1:55 or faster but racing fans are beginning to take it all in stride as the escalated purse schedule keeps attracting better stock.

Daylon Trooper, from the powerful Mark Ford stable and owned by Martin Sharf, moved to the Mighty M last week from Western Fair Raceway in Ontario, but was roughed-up in his first start when he was parked to the half in :56.3 and tired in the stretch, only to finish second beaten by two lengths in a 1:56:3 clocking. However, he surely made amends on Tuesday when Stephane Bouchard guided the Camluck stallion to a three-length victory in 1:54:4 over Shadows Best Buddy (Larry Stalbaum). Saratoga Raceway invader Eastern Bull, with Billy Parker,Jr at the controls, finished third.

Earlier on the card Skeeter Todd gave Ray Schnittker a fast ride when he wired a solid field of optional high-priced claimers who raced for a purse of $9,000. After an unsuccessful attempt at the Meadowlands, Skeeter Todd retuned and proved to be way too much for his competition after Schnittker guided him to a six-length 1:55:1 victory over Shutout Hanover (Stephane Bouchard) and Fox Valley Luxor (Larry Stalbaum).

Owned by D’Elegance Stable IX, Mathias Meinzinger, and Jerry Silva and trained by Paul Doherty, Skeeter Todd retuned a $9.80 win mutuel.

And in the pacing co-feature, the $12,500 winners over $10,000 lifetime, Saratoga invader Kurt Rustler won his second race since moving here when Larry Stalbaum guided the 6-year-old son of Rustler Hanover to one-length victory over Jacob Western (Stephane Bouchard) in a 1:56 clocking with a final half paced in :57:3. Third place went to Morocco, who was handled by Billy Parker Jr.

Owned by Daniel Gagliardi and trained by Tim Case, Kurt Rustler paid a paltry $3.70 for win.

(Monticello Raceway)

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