Camwood swoops, scores feature pace

Camwood reasserted his reign over the Monticello Raceway harness racing Open Pace class with his fourth win in six weeks at that level on Wednesday.

Leaving from post three, his furthest inside draw since making his Monticello debut on Apr. 20, he tucked into the pocket for regular reinsman Bruce Aldrich Jr. Camwood followed leader Brocks Fortune (Brett Macdonald) through the first quarter mile in :27.3 and half in :57.2.

Aldrich tipped the gelding out before three-quarters in 1:26.1 behind the first-over Cool Blues Man (Cory Stratton), who was edging past the leader entering the turn. Brocks Fortune fought back though, and he and Cool Blues man entered the stretch on level terms. Camwood closed them down midway through the lane and surged past in the final yards for a 1:55.4 victory.

Cool Blues Man lost by a half-length but beat out Brocks Fortune for the place spot. The winner paid $4.80.

CAMWOOD REPLAY

Camwood, a seven-year-old son of Woodstock, is a 24-time winner with now more than $220,000 in earnings. Christopher Petrelli trains for George Dremonas of Oak Lawn.

Raceace and Alan Schwartz also got up late in the North American Amateur Driving Association Trot in an even closer photo.

Schwartz slotted Raceace into third on the rail and remained motionless through fractions of :28.4 and :59 before launching the gelding three-wide going by three-quarters in 1:30. Raceace reeled in leader Winneress (Tony Verruso) throughout the stretch-drive and got past at they hit the wire to score in 2:00.1.

Winneress was second, and Superiorcourt (Joseph Lee) braved a first-over trip to finish third. The winner returned $7.20.

RACEACE REPLAY

Raceace has won 13 of his 62 career appearances and earned more than $160,000. Schwartz also owns and trains the five-year-old by Yankee Glide. The victory was Schwartz’ 624th win as a driver.

Leading teamster Michael Merton caught fire in the middle of the program. He won three straight with Machtu N (1:55.3) in the fourth, Brackley Beach (1:54.4) in the fifth, and Best Choice (1:56.2) in the sixth.

Monticello Raceway returns on Thursday, Jun. 6 with a 12:10 p.m. EDT first post kicking off a nine-race card.

For full race results, click here.

by Nicholas Barnsdale, for Harnesslink