Running Book, Laughing Art win for owner, trainer, driver

The owner-trainer-driver combination of Antonio Chiaravalle, Bill Elliott and Mark MacDonald swept the two Monticello Gold Rush eliminations at Monticello Raceway Monday afternoon with Running Book in 1:54.1 and Laughing Art in 1:55.2 over a track rated sloppy. The $500,000 final will be raced next Monday afternoon.

In the first elimination Running Book and MacDoanald sat a pocket trip while 3-5 favorite Forensic Z Tam and Pat Lachance set fractions of :28.2 and :57.3. On the back stretch the second time Running Book popped out of the two hole and brushed to the lead before the 1:26.2 third quarter and proceeded to draw away from the field. He was an open-lengths winner while Kenneth J., who broke stride in tight quarters in the first turn, rallied three wide in the final turn to take second for Ron Pierce. Ghee’s House and Yannick Gingras came up the passing lane to be third, with Hagi also qualifying for the final with a fourth-place finish for Jim Morrill Jr.

Running Book, a Real Desire colt, scored he second win of the year in eight starts. His first win was an upset victory in a Meadowlands Pace elimination.

In the second elimination Glass Pack and Gingras grabbed the early lead from post one, but made a break as he reached the :28.1 opening quarter. Laughing Art, who was racing second, inherited the lead and was never seriously threatened the rest of the mile. He took the field past the half in :57.2 and the three quarters in 1:26.1 before coming home for his third victory of the year in eight starts. Ideal Vintage and Daniel Dube was a length back in second with Fresh Deck and John Campbell third and Lindy’s Bandit and Jim Morrill Jr. also qualifying for the final.

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