“Each of
our preliminary events was for drivers of different ethnicities so we called
Heritage Drivers Series Final “The All-America Cup” because America is a nation of
different ethnic citizens,” noted Eric Warner, the tracks Director of Racing.
“And as luck would have it many of our top drivers won their respective ethnic
races so we had a field of good drivers in the final event.”
After a
recall for a horse with broken equipment Devaux hustled Gin And Vermouth to the
front and they lead the field by the quarter in :28.4. As the field headed
toward the halfway point, Bobby Williams Jr. , winner of the Dr Martin Luther
King, Jr. Pace, was parked out with Super Killean and they ranged alongside
the leader as the field passed the half in :58.4.
With Super
Killean still out on the limb as the field headed up the backside, it
forced the trailing horses to go three-deep to get in contention. At that point
Devaux put the pedal to the metal and Gin And Vermouth scooted away by
five lengths as they headed into the final turn.
With a
comfortable lead turning for home Gin And Vermouth didn’t
seem interested and in the deep stretch Amizida and Forte make a
late charge but they ran out of racetrack as Devaux’s pacer was the first one
under the wire.
“ Before
the race I looked over the program again and I felt my horse was the best and
the only place to be when you’re the best in on the front-end,”
Devaux responded after being asked why he sent his pacer to the lead as
the gate sprung.
“ When we
headed for home I was glad to have a big lead and thought we ‘d win it but with
Mike (Forte with Amazida) coming so fast I wasn’t sure till we crossed
the finish line.”
Trainer Bob
Lounsbury, who joined Devaux in the winner’s circle presentation, chimed
in with: ” When he (Gin And Vermouth) doesn’t see any horses around him he lets
go a bit but I knew he wouldn’t let Forte’s horse beat him once he heard him
coming.”
Super
Killean ( Bobby Williams, Jr) finished fourth and Sue’s Destroyer
finished fifth for Zeke Parker (Mayflower Mile winner) High Point (Lisa
Krom winner of the Lady Godiva), Doug’s Boy (Alan Charles winner of the race
for the matzos)) and Foomanchu (Mike Merton winner of the Munich Mile) also
started .
For Gin And
Vermouth, a Camluck 9 year old gelding, it marked his 11th victory
of the season. Owned by Margaret Olmstead of Monticello, NY he paid $6.00 for
win.
