Eight avid amateur drivers lined-up behind the mobile
starting gate and when the dust had settled Gerry Fielding emerged victorious
with Michael’s Jewel in a time of 2:00.2.
Dave Yarock with Shania Twain, took command on the first
turn and then led the way past the quarter in :29.4 and they were still
well in hand as they passed the halfway point in 1:01.1. Approaching the half,
Fielding moved Michael’s Jewel out to challenge and the two leaders raced side
by side by the third stanza and into the stretch. At that point
Shania Twain faded and Michael’s Jewel led the way to the finish line. Cardine
Hanover , driven by Eric Taddeo, who was sitting a two hole trip behind
Shania Twain found the passing lane in the homestretch and rallied
but they ran out of racetrack and had to settle for second money just a head
behind the winner. Mike Weiner, with 50-1 shot The Other Side finished third.
“I was sitting third at the quarter but my horse
started to grab-on as we headed for the half so I moved him to the outside. We
battled Yarock (with Shania Twain) over most of the last half mile and in
the lane my horse put away Yarock’s and held off Taddeo’s late charge to
win it,” Fielding related.
Michael’s Jewel returned a $4.20 win mutuel.
For Fielding it marked his second consecutive driving
victory in as many starts this season after having won a leg of the Florida
Amateur Drivers Series on April 14th. In his long amateur
career it was Fielding’s 61st winning drive.
