Teddy Brosevelt bullish at Monticello

Jim Taggart Jr. sent the gelding away from the start quickly. Flight Of The Kiwi (Michael Merton) also went forward, attempting to gain the early lead, but Teddy Brosevelt, taking advantage of his rail draw, accelerated through the first turn and forced the former to take a pocket seat.

Taggart Jr. rated his charge to split times of :29.1, :59, and 1:28.4, and he turned for home with the lead. The first-over Making Sparks (Kyle DiBenedetto) and Flight Of The Kiwi hounded Teddy Brosevelt down the stretch, but the leader had enough trot to repel their attacks and cross the finish line in front.

Teddy Brosevelt won in 1:59; Making Sparks came up a neck short in second, and Flight Of The Kiwi was just behind in third. The winner paid $4.10 in the field of six.

Teddy Brosevelt, a six-year-old son of Guccio, is now 20-for-106 lifetime. The lion’s share of today’s purse leaves him just shy of $180,000 in earnings. Jim Doherty Jr. trains for Timothy Betts and Nicholas Catalano of Cannonsburg, Kieth Pippi of Pittsburgh, and Chester Hoffman of Hickory.

Too Much Sun was victorious in the first co-feature for pacing fillies and mares after a drawn-out battle.

Merton dropped her into third early from the three-hole, but he had no plans to remain there and moved to the lead just prior to the quarter mile marker, which they hit in :29. Too Much Sun went to the half in :59 as Moonlightandroses (Taggart Jr.) moved up to challenge.

Moonlightandroses eclipsed the leader on the outside in the third quarter, but Too Much Sun returned fire and took back command as they passed three-quarters in 1:27.1. The top two warred down the stretch, but Too Much Sun had enough pace to put away Moonlightandroses and win in 1:56.3.

Moonlightandroses had to settle for second, and The Boss’ Wife (Shane Taggart) finished third of seven. A correct $2 win ticket returned $3.80.

Too Much Sun has now won 15 of her 123 lifetime outings and earned more than $85,000. Gregory Decker trains the six-year-old Betterthancheddar mare for Michael Mulligan of Liberty.

Sweet Ginger, a Monticello stalwart this season, returned to winning ways in the second distaff pacing co-feature after two straight losses.

She went to the lead early from post four for Bruce Aldrich Jr. and paced to the quarter mile in :28.1, hanging out Skyway Ballet (Braxten Boyd) in the process. Sweet Ginger continued on the front to the half in :57.1 and three-quarters in 1:26.4 and streaked away from her seven foes on the home turn. Mylittlesurfergirl (Merton) mounted a challenge, but Sweet Ginger was well clear and won by two lengths in 1:56.3.

Mylittlesurfergirl was second, and Princess Brisa (DiBenedetto) was best of the rest.

Sweet Ginger is a five-year-old Fred And Ginger mare who is co-owned by Aldrich Jr. with Laura Perino of Thompson Ridge, who trains the horse. The mare surpassed $50,000 in earnings with the victory, which was her 10th lifetime from 48 starts.

Demand An Answer pocket-popped in the stretch and vaulted past the leader to capture the final co-feature, a conditioned trot.

He motored off the gate from post five and acquired the lead entering the first turn for Aldrich Jr. Quick Summer (Merton) moved up on the outside, though, going wide from post eight to attain front-end control. He carved out splits of :28.3, :59.1, and 1:29.2 with little opposition from the seven others.

Quick Summer angled for home in the lead, but Demand An Answer drifted out of the pocket, pulled alongside, and edged past in the final yards for a 1:59.2 victory. Quick Summer finished a half-length behind in second. Labatt Hanover (Boyd) joined the fray late and took the show placing.

The winner paid $9.60.

Demand An Answer improved his record to 20-for-171 lifetime and his earnings to $184,165. Perino trains this nine-year-old Angus Hall gelding for Aldrich as well; Brent Schlossberg of New City is a co-owner.

Monticello Raceway is back on Tuesday, May 18 with eight races, including an Open Pace. That card will start at 12:10 p.m. EDT.

For full race results, click here.