Monticello Raceway featured its normal Thursday mainstay, the Catskill Amateur Driving Event.
Changing her tactics and deviating from the norm this week rather than cut the mile, Jennifer Lappe was content to sit the pocket journey while Monica Banca aboard Fox Valley Leo cut the fractions. Monica Banca and Fox Valley Leo left the gate first from post 5 and had the lead in the first turn, Lightning Strike the 1-5 favourite and Jennifer Lappe protected their position from the two-hole and settled in the garden spot while Fox Valley Leo left splits of 28.2, 58.4. 1:29.2 on the teletimer.
Bob Davis and Sand Benelli tried to get the outer flow going at the half in the six-horse field but found no takers, but continued to grind it out on the backside. At this point the heavy track took its toll on Fox Valley Leo as Banca popped the ear plugs at the three-quarter pole, but to no avail as the early pacesetter faded in the lane. Sand Benelli ranged into contention of the top of the stretch, but the real estate saving Lightning Strike was able to clear and go on to win by a length over Sand Benelli in 2:00:2.
It was the third win in a row for Lappe and Lightning Strike, the nine-year-old gelding by Cam Terrific is trained and owned by William Mintz, and in the process picked up his seventh seasonal win. Paul Walker and Docs Zippy were third. All three of Lightning Strikes string of wins have come in the Catskill Amateur events and has four wins in six starts in the event.
Live racing resumes on Monday November 20 with a 12:25 p.m. post time.
(Monticello Raceway)