Polar Queen wins with some leprechaun dust

When driver  Jimmy Marohn was in the winner's circle after he reined 48-1 shot Polar Queen to a stunning upset victory in Monticello Raceway's St. Paddy Pace on St. Patrick’s Day at Monday, he was asked why the betting public sent him off at such big odds.

“I got no respect,” he laughed. “They had no faith in me.”

When asked why his mare went such an impressive mile after showing so little in her previous starts this year, he said jokingly, “I know she didn’t look too good on the program and the seven hole was no help, but someone must have spayed leprechaun dust her because she raced like a champ.”

Richard Roardamel’s 4-year-old daughter of The Big Dog, who earned a 1:55.2 record last year over Pocono Downs' five-eighths mile oval, turned in her best mile this season when she turned back seven others in a mile clocked in 2:02.1

After being 0–for-7 prior to the race, Polar Queen, who started from post position seven, lit up the tote board when she returned  mutuel payoffs of  $99.50, $25.80 and $12.40.

After Jordan “The Kid” Stratton gunned Fox Valley Trisara to the lead from post position eight, his mare got the field by the quarter-mile panel in a swift :28.3. Fox Valley Trisara then showed the way to the half in  :59 with the betting favorite Miss Bala Slippers, driven by John McDermott, snuggled in tight behind her.

At that point the eventual winner Polar Queen was still 12 lengths behind, but five lengths closer than she was at the quarter pole.

However, as the field headed toward the three-quarters, Fox Valley Trisara began to tire badly and Miss Bala Slippers got caught in when Mike Dougherty fired Commissioner N up to challenge. As that was transpiring Marohn had Polar Queen in high gear and they circled everyone before the final turn.

At the top of the lane Polar Queen  had two lengths on the field and when McDermott finally shook loose with Miss Bala Slippers, he had too much ground to make up and at the wire Polar Queen was an eased-up one-length winner.

Jimmy Marohn Jr., who was trying to shadow his dad’s moves with Katy’s Finale, found that his mare flattened out when she was forced three deep in the final turn but she still rambled home in third place

For Jimmy Marohn Sr., it was his 4,973rd winner of his illustrious career and his victory with Polar Queen was his second in Monticello Raceway’s St. Paddy Pace, having won the event with Fly With Action in 2005. (Monticello Raceway)

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