Camwood keeps the good times rolling

Top-level Monticello Raceway stalwart Camwood captured his seventh Open Pace of the season on Wednesday at the track with a wire-to-wire effort over a wet harness racing surface.

He burst away from his post five position and quickly settled on the front end. Camwood, the 1/5 favourite, paced :28.1 and :58 opening panel times through the mud and was unhurried to three-quarters in 1:27 as the outside flow leader stalled on the backstretch.

Pocket-sitter Cheyenne Ryan Lee (Luke Hanners) fired to the outside for his shot on the final turn. Driver Michael Merton urged Camwood in response and delayed the challenger’s advance until mid-stretch. Cheyenne Ryan Lee gained swiftly late, but his rally was a head short in second as Camwood reached the finish in time to score in 1:55.1.

P H Kenny (Kyle DiBenedetto) finished third.

CAMWOOD REPLAY

Camwood, a seven-year-old Woodstock gelding, is now 28-for-239 lifetime and has brought in $235,002. Christopher Petrelli has trained the horse to seven Monticello Open wins in 14 tries this season for owner George Dremonas of Oak Lawn.

Also on the card, amateur driver David Yarock won his second consecutive GSY Series contest with Sammy B Happy. Yarock ordered the seven-year-old gelded son of American Ideal to the lead in a :29.2 first quarter, cut 1:00 and 1:30 middle splits, and saw the gelding home for a half-length win in 1:59.4. Dawn Devaux trains the horse for Yarock, who owns and bred him. The pair won their last GSY series outing at Monticello on Aug. 9.

Monticello Raceway enters the second half of its weekly schedule with a seven-race program on Wednesday, Aug. 18. The card, starting at 12:10 p.m. EDT, features an Open Trot.

For full race results, click here.

by Nicholas Barnsdale, for Harnesslink