Name Your Price Series continues at Monticello
Thursday, February 14, 2013 - by John Manzi, publicity director, Monticello Raceway
Monticello, NY --- After two days of foggy weather in New York’s southern Catskills, three divisions of the second preliminary leg of Monticello Raceway’s Name Your Price Claiming Series for horses and geldings went to post on Wednesday afternoon Feb. 13, and when the judges posted the official signs Haroun Hanover’s 1:56.3 effort was the fastest of the three splits. Also victorious were Nutmegs Taxi, in 1:59.2, and Four Starzz Lefty, in 1:58.4, both pacers from the Billy Devine stable and both driven by Patrick Beeler.
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| Geri Schwarz |
| Haroun Hanover cruised to a 1:56.3 victory in his division for driver Jimmy Marohn, Jr. |
Still in for the bargain price of $4,000 Haroun Hanover, owned by Ed Hall and James Hall of Connecticut, notched his fifth consecutive victory and returned a $2.80 win mutuel. He was the only repeat winner in the series on Wednesday.
After finishing second, missing by just a neck last week, Nutmegs Taxi made amends when Patrick Beeler followed live cover until the top of the lane and then rallied his pacer to a short, nose victory over River Waltz N and driver Kevin Switzer, Jr. It was the third season’s triumph for the Four Starzz Shark 6-year old gelding who is owned by James Schreibeis of Florida, N.Y. Nutmeg’s Taxi paid $9.30 to win.
In the final split Pat Beeler and Four Starzz Lefty stalked the pacesetter, Thomas John N (Mike Simons), until midway through the homestretch and then charged home to be a neck winner in 1:58.4. Thomas John N (Mike Simons) held on for second money.
Owned by the Chalky Tom Racing Stable of Ballston Spa, N.Y., the winner paid $29.80 and gave trainer Billy Devine a pair of winners on the card.
Although none of the owners used the option of adding another $1,000 to their horse’s claiming price in the series’ second leg, when the final prelims are raced next Wednesday owners can enter their pacers for $4,000, $5,000 or $6,000 -- again with the higher-priced claimers drawing outside of those with a lesser price tag.
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