Tuesday's (Nov. 1.) edition of Racing Roundup features results stories from Monticello Raceway, The Meadows, Dover Downs and Plainridge Racecourse.
Winbak Delight scores in Monticello feature
Monticello, NY--One of the bigger stories around Monticello Raceway in recent months has been the emergence of Real Mystical, a 1:51.1 record pacer five years ago who has been the talk of the town of late.
Claimed for $5,000 by James Schreisbeis on Sept. 20, the altered son of Real Artist then proceeded to reel off five consecutive victories; all faster than 1:54.3 culminating in a 1:53.2 triumph on Oct. 18 all with leading driver Bruce Aldrich Jr. at the controls.
Not that the apparent Cinderella story came to an end on Tuesday (Nov. 1), it’s just that Real Mystical got beat, but in the weekly winners-over pace.
Winbak Delight, in from Yonkers Raceway with Jimmy Taggart Jr. at the controls, stalked Real Mystical throughout fractions of 28; 57.1 and 1:26.3 before getting up in the final strides to collar the pace-setting Real Mystical and score a head victory in a time of 1:55.3.
“We got away in good shape from the rail and (we) even parked Real Mystical a ways before we let him go. Once he took the lead I sat right on Bruce’s back and we never let Real Mystical get away from us,” Taggart said in the winner’s circle as he was trying to hide his wry smile. “Coming off the final turn I thought we were gonna get him and my mare finally wore him down. But it wasn’t easy.”
When Aldrich was contacted in the paddock after the race he really made no excuses although he said; “ The horse (Real Mystical) missed a race last week because his class didn’t fill and he hadn’t started since Oct. 18. I still thought we’d be the best, but I guess not racing in two weeks cost him his sharpness. And then again, he was racing against the best pacers on the grounds today, too.”
Winbak Delight, a 7-year-old daughter of Bettor’s Deligh-M S Caddy and a former Monticello Raceway Older Pacing Mare of the Year, is owned by Ken Weckstein and Richard Rubin and trained by Gary Messenger.
With her victory Winbak Delight raised her seasonal bankroll to almost $92,000 and returned a $16.40 win mutuel.
--John Manzi
THE MEADOWS
Jojo N Goliath worked out a second-over trip and went on to a narrow victory in Tuesday’s $22,500 Winners Over $10,000 Life/Preferred Handicap Pace at The Meadows. Sitting fourth down the backside, Jojo N Goliath and Eric Ledford followed the live cover of Tunearrific before peeling off around the final turn to score by a nose in 1:51.1. Valentowner was second, with the 79-1 Haverford Hanover third. Paul Kennedy trains Jojo N Goliath, a 5-year-old Keystone Raider-Jo Jo Cadet gelding who now boasts $387,833 in career earnings, for Daniel Courtemanche and Thomas Courtemanche.
DOVER DOWNS
Higher And Higher, one of last season’s standouts, won the first $23,000 Mares Open Handicap Pace of the meet on Nov. 1 at Dover Downs. Daryl Bier drove Higher And Higher to a 27.4 final panel to record her seventh win of the year, a 1:51.4 triumph in the female feature. Bier, Glenn Del Russo and Charles Dombeck own the Western Terror-Pro Bowl Best 4-year-old, now a winner of $289,365 this season and $720,338 lifetime. Lorrie Please (Tim Tetrick) nipped Perfect M Forever (Corey Callahan) for second.
PLAINRIDGE RACECOURSE
Jim Hardy continued his assault on a sixth driving title at Plainridge Racecourse, visiting the winners circle three times Tuesday. Hardy swept the early double with Pembroke Deluxe and Will He, and won the nightcap driving JB Ingot. Hardy holds a 20-plus race lead among the track's winningest drivers with John Kakaley and Michael Eaton giving chase. Local Hall of Fame driver John Hogan and Steve Nason had a pair of wins as the weather cooperated after a driving rain and snowstorm fell throughout central Massachusetts last weekend, causing many power outages. Hogan's wins came with Hi Speed Delivery in the third race and Ben-Him, both owned by the resident of Argyle, N.Y. For Ben-Him, it was his seventh money finish in the past seven starts dating back to Sept. 12. Hi Speed Delivery has been even more impressive for the 50-year veteran of the sport. Yesterday's win marked the horses sixth trip to payoff lane in his last nine starts. Steve Nason, who's been a frequent visitor to the Plainridge winner's circle, especially since he and his father won the featured races on Labor Day, won with Party To A Crime (1:56.3) and Wattie N (1.56.1.)