Exciting day at Monticello

Chip Chip Conway wins another battle at Monticello

Monticello, NY— In a photo finish, the favorite Chip Chip Conway (Conway Hall) captured the harness racing victory in the $7,200 Open trot at Monticello Raceway on Wednesday afternoon (Sept. 13).

E R Shane (Bruce Aldrich Jr) took the lead out of the gate. From the middle of the track, Itsoneofthose (Alan Schwartz) rushed up to challenge the lead, with Chip Chip Conway (Jim Taggart Jr) following from the far outside. As they passed the quarter mile in :28.2, E R Shane and Itsoneofthose were battling for first.

In the stretch over to the half, E R Shane was leading, with Itsoneofthose following in second and Chip Chip Conway in third. They passed the half mile mark in :58.4.

Chip Chip Conway made his way into the two hole behind E R Shane. Heading by the three-quarter station in 1:28.3, E R Shane and Chip Chip Conway were in a battle for the lead. Itsoneofthose and Cinamon Stick (Gregory Merton) not far behind.

There were four horses across the track at the top of stretch. In a photo finish, Chip Chip Conway captured the victory in 1:58.4 by a head. Cinnamon Stick came in second and Itsoneofthose finished in third by only a neck.

CHIP CHIP CONWAY REPLAY

Chip Chip Conway, a 7-year-old gelding, is trained by Gary Messenger and owned by Kenneth Weckstein of Maryland and Gary Messenger from New York. He paid $5.90 to win. It was his second straight win and 12th victory of the year.

Racing at Monticello Raceway resumes tomorrow, Thursday, September 14. Post time is 12:10 p.m.

by Nicolle Kain, for Harnesslink

Wicked Nick, Bully Boy take Monticello NAADA splits

Michelle Crawford zoomed off a pylon trip and Alan Schwartz led pillar to post to take their respective $7,500 harness racing divisions of the North American Amateur Drivers Association (NAADA) Trots at Monticello Raceway on Wednesday afternoon (Sept. 13).

In the first division, Michelle Crawford settled into third at Wicked Nick (Tad The Stud) while Fun Time Charlie (driven by Scott Keppler) cleared command to a :29.2 first quarter. Fun Time Charlie stayed unchallenged and slowly widened his lead on pocket-sitter and 6-5 favorite Arch Credit (Joe Lee) through middle fractions of 1:00 and 1:29.2. Keppler built an appearingly insurmountable lead until Fun Time Charlie lost stride turning for home, leaving Arch Credit to inherit a tenuous lead with challengers swarming in the straightaway.

Crawford tipped Wicked Nick off the pegs at the bottom corner and carried his momentum through the lane to secure a length win on quick closing With Our Luck (Jacob Stillwell) in second. Brutal Storm (Andrew Adamczyk) closed from near last for third and Arch Credit settled for fourth.

Michelle Crawford trains and co-owns Wicked Nick, a 9-year-old gelding, with Brett Crawford. Off the fourth choice in the betting, he paid $17.20 to win.

WICKED NICK REPLAY

Alan Schwartz delivered a flier in the second division behind 3-5 favorite Bully Boy (Jailhouse Jesse), a victor in 1:58.4. Schwartz zipped to the lead from post 5 to post a :28.3 first quarter and had his competition struggling from there forward. Bully Boy moseyed by a :58 half and 1:28 three-quarters to then open a six-length lead coming for home. By A Hoff Hanover (James Slendorn), sitting second throughout, gave pursuit to hold the place spot with Call Me Thefireman (Andrew Adamczyk) hanging onto third from Cyclone Maximus (Scott Keppler).

BULLY BOY REPLAY

Gary Messenger trains Bully Boy, a 7-year-old gelding, for owner Risto Vidgren. He paid $3.30 to win.

NAADA action moves to Yonkers Raceway next Thursday (Sept. 21) for the fifth preliminary of the Fall Trotting Series. A total of 10 preliminaries are scheduled for the Fall Series, which will go to final at Yonkers Raceway on Thursday, Nov. 2.

First-race post time at Yonkers Raceway is 7 p.m. (EDT).

For complete race results, click here: US Trotting results.

by Ray Cotolo, for NAADA