Mr Contestant Wins Open

October 16, 2024

This afternoon featured a 9-race card, with the $8,800 Open Trot with a field of 7, with the a new face of Mr Contestant and Promise For Life who returned after 2 starts at Pocono Downs and 1 heat of the North American Amateur Driving Association (NAADA)

The Open Trot had the favorites from the rail Mr Contestant and Promise For Life from post 7, when the gate left so did Promise For Life (J. Devaux) who promptly had the lead with Mr Contestant in the 2 hole.  Down the backside first time around Consus Victory made a break, Promise For Life did all the heavy lifting, well not really as the fractions were relatively soft, the opening panel was 28.3 and the half in 58.3. Doo Wop Kid (A. Schwartz) popped put of the 3 hole as they approached the next station in 1:29.1. Turning for home it was still the 2 favorites, Promise For Life had a 2 length advantage over Mr Contestant but it wasn’t enough as the son of Winning Mister tripped the beam in 1:59. 3 $4.90, Skrill got up for third. The winner is trained by Peter Pellegrino and was driven to the won by Greg Merton 9th seasonal victory for the 9-year-old gelding owned by Room 4040 LLC of Yorktown, NY. Andrew Adamczyk won the NAADA event aboard Buzz 2:02.2 – $2.50.

All of the Merton Brothers had winning drives, Greg and Michael each had a pair, Thomas had a single, Bruce Aldrich Jr also got the deuce, trainer Art Green had a double.

It was a respectable betting day with the 9 race handle of $487, 386 with a per race average of $54,100.