Case in point: Alan Schwartz.
Known in Billings’ wars as “the Intimidator”, Schwartz, the
Monticello Raceway veteran amateur driver who is enjoying one of his best
seasons in the sulky ,took advantage of the visiting foes and guided his
trotter Iroquouindianmagic to a come-from-behind 2:02 victory in the first
Mighty M leg of the CKG Billings Harness Driving Championship Series on May 31st.
Schwartz, the National Amateur Driver of the Year during the
2000 campaign, is now and has over the past several years mostly
competed against the pros at Monticello. However, he does on
occasion indulge in amateur races here and at Yonkers
Raceway.
In the Mighty M Billings Trot on Friday, Dave “Steady As”
Yarock sent Kris’s Legacy to the lead and they cut the first half
fractions of :29.1 and :59.3. Still in command up the backside Kris’s Legacy
was being closely shadowed by Howmac’s Amigo and driver Steve “You’re” Never
Too” Oldford. Drill Sergeant Sam and Peter “The Past President” Gerry
moved first-up followed by Schwartz and his trotter which left Oldford locked
in as the field tightened around him.
When Oldford moved his trotter he clipped a wheel and blew
the tire on Yarock’s bike and in doing so they pushed their way out between
horses which forced Schwartz’s trotter three-deep. On the final turn they
were three-abreast but when the three straightened in the lane Kris’s
Legacy faded and Iroquoindianmagic out trotted Howmacs Amigo to the
finish.
Although Howmac’s Amigo was second under the wire the judges
deemed there was interference and placed Oldford’s trotter out of the
money. The adjusted order of finish had Drill Sergeant Sam moved up to
second and Boriqua, driven by Tony “the Capo” Verruso, placed third.
It was the fourth seasonal win for Iroquouindianmagic who is
owned by his driver. Sent off as the odds-on favorite the 9-year-old Credit
Winner gelding paid just $3.60 for win. For Schwartz it was his 476th
amateur driving victory.
Also on the card was the second leg of the Catskill Amateur
Drivers Club Series which saw Gary Campbell and Lady On The
Attack stalk the favorite and pace-setter Big John B and driver Dave Yarock
til the top of the stretch and then charge by them to score a
three-length triumph in a 1:58.2 clocking. Big John B held second and
Doug’s Boy and Sam Sbarra finished third.
The winner, owned by Charles Droege of Outer Springs, Ga.
and trained by Campbell, paid a whopping $75.00 for win.
And Billy “Zeke” Parker, Jr. had a breakout day reining five
winners on the card and raising his career total to 10,684, good for seventh on
the all-time list.
