Far Better Wins Seven in a Row at Monticello Raceway

June 23, 2021

Photo Credit: Geri Schwarz

Monticello, N.Y. – Far Better took home his seventh win in a row in open company on Tuesday, June 22 at Monticello Raceway. It’s been a month and a half since he made his first start at the track on Thursday, May 6, following a brief, fairly unlucky, stint at the Meadowlands. Since then, he has slowly ascended the ladder, starting off in NW 350 PS and gradually rising through the ranks until he made the Open.

Once driver Mike Merton got the front end, he put a sleeper hold on the field and waltzed through fractions of 29, 58.3 1:27.2. There were some anxious moments as Far Better became a little rough gaited rounding the last turn, but he kept his composure to win by two lengths in 1:56.2 over Nox Vegas Bluechip (Cory Stratton). Hestons Lucky Chip (Jim Taggart Jr.) was third. The son of Bettor’s Delight is trained by Nicholas Devita for owner Robert W Dieck of North Norwich, NY. The win gave Mike Merton four driving wins on the afternoon.

Also on the card, a pair of nice two-year-old pacing colts hailing from the Gary Messenger barn won their first lifetime start. KJ Unreal (So Surreal) scored in 1:59.3 and KJ Hunter (Huntsville) in 2:00. They are both owned by Scott Woogen, Brenda Messenger, and PW Shapiro. Bo Sowers had a training double on the card.

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