Veteran reinsman Kyle Di Benedetto has driven plenty of winners in his career – 5,837 to be exact – and he’s driven many that have returned big mutuel payoffs.
Although, on Tuesday, May 13 when Di Benedetto won Monticello Raceway’s third race in 2:00.3 with Mia Casino, the seven-year-old daughter of Bettors Delight returned a whopping $282 Win payout.
Di Benedetto and Mia Casino started slowly. By the halfway point of the mile (1:01) they were still sitting last in the eight horse field. As the field headed up the backside, Di Benedetto moved his pacing mare and they began some forward movement.
By the third stanza they were still five lengths off the leader, but in sixth. As the field rounded the final turn, Di Benedetto moved Mia Casino down along the pylons and they used the passing lane to score an easy one-length victory over MoDonna and driver Jason Ryan.
“Starting in the seven-hole is never an advantage, but I thought if we got a little racing luck we could get some money, after all she won in (1:) 59 flat a few starts back,” Di Benedetto said afterward. “She went a real good race today and finished strong.
“I can’t tell you how surprised I was when I returned to the winner’s circle and saw she was 99-1 on the (tote) board, but that was only part of the story. She went off even longer (odds) because she paid $282.00 for win. She (Mia Casino) is biggest longshot I ever won with.”
It was the second victory of the season for Mia Casino whose owned and trained by John Stubits.
(Monticello)