Upsets abound in Sullivan Memorial elims

July 10, 2007

Two of the fastest miles ever trotted at Monticello Raceway went into the record books during the eliminations for the $314,000 Wm. Sullivan Memorial on a hot and muggy Monday, with RC Royalty and Man About Town coming up winners.

RC Royalty won the first $25,000 split in an overall track record of 1:56 and three races later Man About Town turned down a stellar field including Vivid Photo, to score a new mark for 4-year-old totting geldings with a 1:56.2 triumph. Both clockings were faster that the former record of 1:56.3 set by Thishorsewillfly on June 8, 2005.

But to say that RC Royalty likes the track at Monticello Raceway would be an understatement. At two he set, and still holds the freshman track record of 1:59.4 and last year at three set he established a sophomore record of 1:57.4 that was erased earlier this season when Mythical Lindy when he won a division of the Nevele Pride in 1:57.3.

However, in Monticello Raceway�s Sullivan Memorial the big strapping son of Credit Winner turned back some of North America�s best trotters with a convincing wire-to-wire triumph in a new overall track mark of 1:56.

Dismissed by the betting crowd and sent off at odds of 31-1, despite starting from the rail position, Daley took Chip Campbell�s pride and joy immediately to the front and RC Royalty got the quarter pole in a soft :29.2. Daly and RC Royalty were still just chugging along and at the three-eighths Yannick Gingras moved supplement race entry, Lavec Dream, to the outside and they ranged up to challenge for the lead.

But Daly stepped on the gas and RC Royalty fired a :28.3 third panel and that had Lavec Dream gasping for air. Around the final turn Lavec Dream faded and Greg Merton, who was tight on Daley�s back, moved Ripped, another longshot, to the outside and they began to gain on the leader but unfortunately for them they ran out of racetrack.

RC Royalty was up to the challenge and held on for a half-length triumph. Swan Image, who benefited from a rail-hugging journey by driver David Miller, trotted strong in the lane to finish third. JM VanGogh, another very nice trotter, was fourth for Jeff Gregory.

When asked about his horse�s stellar performance after two earlier lackluster starts, Daley smiled a cat-that-swallowed-the-canary grin and said, �He (RC Royalty) had been sick earlier this year and now he just coming back to himself.�

It was the first victory in three seasonal starts for RC Royalty who paid a hefty $64 for win.

In the second division all eyes were on former Hambletonian winner Vivid Photo, but in the end it was the venerable Man About Town who took home all the marbles.

Vivid Photo got caught in at the half and then had road trouble the rest of the way. In the final turn the only place driver and co-owner Roger Hammer could find daylight was three deep but against his stubborn competition, that route was the long road and in the lane the world champion flattened out and missed the cut by finishing fifth.

But Gingras didn�t get caught in as he moved Man About Town first-up and his trotter had racing room from there which was more than some of the others had. When Man About Town cleared Gingras had the trailers stacked up behind him.

Sand Vic and Brian Sears made a late run but they fell short and finished second. Med Vac( Larry Stalbaum), who cut fractions of :28.1; :58.1 and 1:27.3, faded but hung on for third place in the 1:56.2 trotted mile.

Self Professed, with Stephane Bouchard aboard, took fourth which denied Vivid Photo a chance to compete in the $243,000 final which will be contested Sunday, July 15.

Man About Town, who started from the eight hole, paid $23.40 for win.

The field for the $264,000 Sullivan Memorial final will include: RC Royalty, Ripped, Swan Image and JM VanGogh from the first split and Man About Town, Sand Vic, Med Vac and Self Professed from the second split. (Monticello Raceway)

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