Trooper prefers Monti

Daylon Trooper proved his superiority over the stalwart field in the $15,000 Preferred Pace at Monticello Tuesday when Stephane Bouchard guided him to a 1:55:2 victory.

At the start Skeeter Todd (Ray Schnittker) charged for the lead, took command and led the field by the first panel in :28:2. He was still on the engine when the field of pacers breezed by the half-mile pole in a :58 clocking. At that point Mike Merton moved All My Life first-up to challenge the leader and the two pacers raced as a team up the backstretch but were soon joined by Daylon Trooper and Kurt Rustler.

In the final turn Skeeter Todd began to tire and as the field began to tighten and the opposing drivers began seeking the shortest route to the finish line.

Bouchard moved Daylon Trooper into the passing lane and Claude Huckabone III angled Kurt Rustler to the far outside and those two pacers made a mad dash for the finish. Daylon Trooper proved to be the stronger and gained command up the inside of the track but then had to hold off the late charge by Kurt Rustler to score a one-half length triumph. Despite his overland trip All My Life hung on for the show dough.

“We were forced (from post position seven) to trail (the field) and there was a time up the backstretch that I thought I might not find (racing) room but a lane opened and we made our way between horses to challenge the leaders,” Bouchard said. “But my horse is tough and he finished real strong in the stretch.”

Owned by Martin Scharf and trained by Mark Ford, Daylong Trooper paid $4.20 for win.

In the $12,500 pacing co-feature, Handsome Jate used cover provided him by SPF Forty (Ray Schnittker) to carry him to the top of the lane and the Broadway Jate 5-year-old gelding rallied down the center of the track to win the in 1:55:1.

After Winsmith Buddy (Greg Merton) grabbed command on the first turn and was comfortable on the lead, Stephane Bouchard moved Jacob’s Western to the outside and began to move up to challenge the leader. He was followed closely by Done Laagin and driver Mark Beckwith.

Jacob’s Western cleared Winsmith Buddy but Done Laagin was still hung out on the limb and the two raced side-by-side past the quarter pole in :28. Just when it appeared that Jacob’s Western would be in for a pressured journey, Done Laagin went offstride in the middle of the paddock turn and left Jacob’s Western alone on the lead.

When the field headed for the half-mile marker Ray Schnittker moved SPF Forty first-up and was followed closely by Handsome Jate as the half-mile timer flashed :56:2. The order remained the same up the backstretch with Jacob’s Western on the lead, Winsmith Buddy still tucked in behind him, SPF Forty first-up on the outside and Handsome Jate close behind him on the outside.

When the field headed for home Winsmith Buddy moved into the passing lane and Handsome Jate went three wide and rumbled down the center of the track. At the wire Handsome Jate had won it and Wiinsmith Buddy was second best. Jacob’s Western held on to finish third.

Handsome Jate, owned by Jordon Stratton and trained by his dad, Dave Stratton, paid $17.80 to win.

The racing program offered $94,500 in overnight purses. Every one of the 12 races on the card was timed in 1:57:4 or faster.


(Monticello release)

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