Monticello-OTB Classic richest race in track history

On Tuesday afternoon, eight of the best older pacers in North America will lock horns in the $480,000 Monticello-OTB Classic, which will be the biggest purse race in the 50-year history of Monticello Raceway. Last Tuesday, in the eliminations, Ian Fromowitz and John Fielding’s Buckeye One was victorious in a 1:52 clocking while Mypanmar scooted to the lead at the half in his split and then cruised to a 1:52.3 victory.

After Buckeye One drew post position eight in the final the complexion of the race has changed dramatically. Though driver Tony Morgan said his pacer can race equally well either in front or from behind, having to start from post eight on the double oval is truly a detriment.

David Miller qualified both Mister Big and Mypanmar from the eliminations but has chosen to drive Mister Big in the rich finale, despite Mister Big having drawn post position six and Mypanmar to start from the three hole.

One doesn’t have to be a harness racing aficionado to know that Miller feels his winning chances are better with Joe Muscara’s Mister Big--the same pacer he won the $600,000 Haughton final in 1:48.2 at the Big M two weeks ago--than they would be if he drove Mypanmar instead.

However, don’t feel bad for the Peter Pan Stables’ Mypanmar, because Hall of Famer John Campbell will be in town to drive the son of The Panderosa in the final.

Maltese Artist, owned by Sylvia Burke, John Howard and James Koran will again have Brian Sears at the controls. Sears qualified both Maltese Artist and Fox Valley Appeal from the eliminations but has chosen to drive Maltese Artist despite having to start from post position seven.  

Perhaps a sleeper in the contest is Ribbonships' Fox Valley Appeal, who’ll now be driven by Cat Manzi. The 4-year-old Sportsmaster gelding finished a close second to Mypanmar last week and has drawn post position two which will put him in the hunt early in the contest. And from that starting  position Fox Valley Appeal could get a good trip and be in the hunt at the finish.

Then again, Western Ace, owned by Kovacs Stable and Teague Inc., put in a good mile in the elims also when he finished second to Buckeye One in his 1:52 victory. Daniel Dube will handle the lines behind the Western Ideal gelding when he starts from post position five.

Dube also qualified JK Big Shot from the eliminations but has yielded the lines to  Yannick Gingras, who will handle Jean Picard’s pacer in the finale and leave from post position four.

And any gambler will tell you never completely overlook the horse starting from the rail position. In this case it’ll be the veteran He Wants It All, a fourth-place finisher in his elimination division last week. Stephane Bouchard gets the driving assignment this week behind Michael Polansky’s pacer.

The trainer of the winner of the Monticello-OTB Classic will receive a $10,000 bonus and there is a $5,000 windfall if a horse breaks the 1:51.4 overall track record in that race. (Monticello)

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