Purse brings in shippers

There’s no denying that bigger purses attract better horses. Case in point: Monticello Raceway’s new $15,000 Preferred Pace. Of the solid eight-horse that went to post in the Mighty M’s newly carded event on April 18, three of the pacers who competed came in from other racetracks.

In from Saratoga Raceway was the Jordan Myers-trained Bacon Hill Bandit and the Tim Case conditioned Eastern Bull, along with Mr. Delite, a first time Mighty M starter from the powerful Mark Ford barn, who had been competing at Woodbine in Canada.

And Mr. Delite didn’t let his backers down as driver Stephane Bouchard guided him to a 1:55 victory . The 4-year-old gelding by The Panderosa edged Shadows Best Buddy by just a head.

Eastern Bull, in rein to Billy “Zeke” Parker, grabbed early command and paced through a first quarter time of :28. But before the field was halfway home Larry Stalbaum decided to move Shadows Best Buddy first up and he raced up alongside Eastern Bull as the two pacers charged by the half mile stanza in :57:1.

Meanwhile Bouchard and Mr. Delite followed Shadows Best Buddy as the leaders scurried by the three quarters in a swift 1:25:4 with Eastern Bull still in command and Shadows Best Buddy doing his best to wear him down.

After Shadows Best Buddy took the lead he had to brace for the late charge by Mr. Delite, who got up in the final strides for his third victory of the year.

Owned by Martin Scharf, Mr. Delite paid $3.20 to win.

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