Michael Merton became the third driver to earn the season wins title over the past three years at Monticello Raceway.
Merton drove to 251 victories, outdistancing seven-time champ and 2020 winner Bruce Aldrich Jr. (208), Cory Stratton (206) and 2019 champ Jim Taggart Jr. (205). Merton also led with runner-up finishes (215) and was fourth in third-place show efforts (165). He finished in the money in 55 percent (631) of 1,154 starts.
Merton, who posted the 4,000th win over his career, at Tioga Downs on July 4, also led the Monticello drivers with $1,063,374 worth of pursues, ahead of Aldrich ($958,574).
Merton showed no signs of slowing down heading into the New Year: he capped 2021 with four wins on Dec. 30 and New Year’s Eve, after winning five on July 12. Other drivers who won four races in a day were Aldrich, Taggart Jr., James Devaux and Stratton.
Aldrich won 136 races in 2020. Taggart won 117 in 2019, beating Merton by one.
Philip Bo Sowers posted the most wins by a Monticello trainer for the second year in a row. Sowers had 112 wins, outdistancing Gary Messenger (92), Laura Perino (84) and Christopher Petrelli (80). Sowers also led in purses with $486,042.
Award season
The Monticello-Goshen chapter of the U.S. Harness Writers Association presented U.S. Trotting Association president Russell Williams with its Lifetime Achievement Award at its December banquet.
Candyce Conroy, from the Ray Schnittker stable, received the Caretaker of the Year Award. Additional awards went to Joe Faraldo (John Manzi Leadership Award); Bob Miecuna (Excelsior Award); John McDermott (John Gilmour Good Guy Award); Eric Taddeo (Cradle of the Trotter Breeders Award); Eddie Glick (Amy Bull Crist Distinguished Service Award); John Hernan (Phil Pines Award); Marianna Monaco (Amateur Driver award); McGwire Sowers (Rising Star award); and, Susanne McManus and Mike Rivera (Mighty M Award of Appreciation).
The top horse awards from Monticello and Goshen Historic Track went to Epaulette A (top pacer, trained by Perino), Chasethecloudsaway (top pacing mare, trained by Petrelli) and Chip Chip Conway (top trotter, trained by Messenger).
Calendar
Monticello Raceway has resumed its regular Monday-Thursday schedule through year’s end, totaling 207 dates. There will be Friday racing on Feb. 4, July 8, Sept. 9 and Dec. 30. Days off include holidays on May 30, July 4, Sept. 5 and Oct. 10.
kmcmillan@th-record.com
Twitter: @KenMcMillanTHR
Monticello Raceway 2021 statistics
Drivers
Wins: 1. Michael Merton 251; 2. Bruce Aldrich Jr. 208; 3. Cory Stratton 206; 4. Jim Taggart Jr. 205; 5. Brandon Parker 127; 6. Jim Devaux 111; 7. Kyle DiBenedetto 104; 8. Gregory Merton 87; 9. Renaldo Morales III 65; 10. Braxten Boyd 37; 11. Justin Huckabone 33; 12. Shane Taggart 32; 13. McGwire Sowers 28; 14. Frederick Bourgault 16; 15. John De Simone Jr. 15 (67 drivers posted at least one win)
Purses: 1. Michael Merton $1,063,374; 2. Bruce Aldrich Jr. $958,574; 3. Cory Stratton $924,104; 4. Jim Taggart Jr. $923,052; 5. Brandon Parker $661,267; 6. Kyle DiBenedetto $548,411; 7. Jim Devaux $443,787; 8. Gregory Merton $333,849; 9. Renaldo Morales III $324,041; 10. Braxten Boyd $196,086; 11. Justin Huckabone $156,640; 12. Shane Taggart $152,827; 13. McGwire Sowers $115,194; 14. John De Simone Jr. $101,436; 15. Jason Bartlett $86,263; 16. Frederick Bourgault $82,691
Second-place finishes: 1. Michael Merton 215; 2. Cory Stratton 197; 3. Jim Taggart Jr. 186; 4. Bruce Aldrich Jr. 181; 5. Brandon Parker 140; 6. Kyle DiBenedetto 131; 7. Jim Devaux 103
Third-place finishes: 1. Jim Taggart Jr. 214; 2. Bruce Aldrich Jr. 192; 3. Brandon Parker 173; 4. Michael Merton 165; 5. Cory Stratton 146; 6. Kyle DiBenedetto 135
Starts (1,656 total): 1. Bruce Aldrich Jr. 1,380; 2. Jim Taggart Jr. 1,271; 3. Cory Stratton 1,219; 4. Michael Merton 1,154; 5. Brandon Parker 1,083; 6. Kyle DiBenedetto 980; 7. Jim Devaux 659; 8. Renaldo Morales III 555; 9. Shane Taggart 444; 10. Gregory Merton 342; 11. Braxten Boyd 293; 12. Justin Huckabone 234; 13. John De Simone Jr. 226; 14. Christopher Doherty 152; 15. McGwire Sowers 141; 16. Rick Harp 126; 17. Frederick Bourgault 114
Trainers
Wins: 1. Philip Bo Sowers 112; 2. Gary Messenger 92; 3. Laura Perino 84; 4. Christopher Petrelli 80; 5. Daniel Gill 51; 6. Thomas Merton 48; 7. Candace Brandstatter 45; 8. Rob Harmon 40; 9. Mark Ford 35; 9. Robert Lounsbury 35
Purses: 1. Philip Bo Sowers $486,042; 2. Gary Messenger $426,632; 3. Laura Perino $391,705; 4. Christopher Petrelli $299,326; 5. Daniel Gill $258,987; 6. Thomas Merton $220,719; 7. Murray Bassen $173,900; 8. Jim Doherty Jr. $165,292; 9. Robert Lounsbury $163,019; 10. Rob Harmon $156,560; 11. Candace Brandstatter $147,593; 12. Mark Ford $131,375
