$824,000 Metro winner comes from nowhere to upset

It was his first time in a major stakes race, his first time away from home and the first time the harness driver ever sat behind him, but despite his 15-1 odds, Monte Miki was able to close from seventh place to win the $824,000 Metro Pace for two-year-olds Saturday at Mohawk Park.

Unbeaten in three starts, Monte Miki was thought by his owner/breeder, Velocity Standardbreds of Lebanon, OH and trainer Mark Evers to be good enough to ship to Canada and race in one of the richest races in the world for two-year-olds.

The seventh race feature started off with Betterhavemymoney (James MacDonald) on the lead first with Wearinmysixshooter (Dexter Dunn) on the outside and going to the front. By the quarter mile in :27, Fourever Boy (Mike Wilder) came up and went to the top.

But that lead was short lived as Dunn came right back with Wearinmysixshooter to take the lead back after the half mile in :55.3.

Then coming in the backstretch, Tim Tetrick had True Blue Lindy on the move first-over with Sylvain Filion coming second-over with Bob Loblaw, who went off-stride and scattered some of the trailing horses except for Monte Miki and driver Scott Zeron.

They had momentum going their way and scooted along the inside and then to the outside as they reached the three-quarters in 1:23.2.

With Wearinmysixshooter well in command coming down the stretch, it was Monte Miki and Zeron flying down the stretch and pulling away from everyone to win by three lengths in 1:52.2. Wearningmysixshooter was second with Forever Boy third.

Now four for four in young career, Monte Miki is sired by Always B Miki from the Camluck mare, Montenegro and paid $33.70 to win.

“This one was more than a shock than the other two I won with,” said Scott Zeron on his third Metro Pace victory. “The trainer told me he was coming into the race in great shape and that I had every bit of a chance to win. I found out a couple of weeks ago that I would be driving this colt. Josh Sutton did not get his vaccination, so I got the call. When Sylvain’s horse made his break, that opened the flood gates for me. I thought by the late eighth of a mile I was going to catch Dexter (Dunn) on the lead.”

MONTE MIKI REPLAY

For full race results, click here.

By Steve Wolf, for Harnesslink