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Friday, April 26, 2013

NAADA - BOB HECHKOFF WINS NAADA TROT WITH TREMENDOUS HIT in 2:01

Tremendous Hit has had many good seasons during his lengthy racing career attested by the fact that the veteran 12-year-old trotter has bankrolled over $438,000in his career.

Even last year the Giant Hit gelding won eight times and earned over $51,000. But it wasn’t until Thursday (April 25) that Tremendous Hit sccored his first seasonal triumph when Bob Hechkoff guided him to a gate to wire victory the seventh leg  of the  North American Amateur Drivers Association Trotting Series at Monticello Raceway in a very creditable time of 2:01.

“He’s a classy old horse and a pleasure to drive,” Hechkoff said from the paddock after his driving victory.  “When he’s in top form he’s tough to beat whether we are on the front end or we come from behind.

“He was just peaking in his last start at Yonkers which I thought we should have won (he finished second) but today he warmed up real good and raced even better.”

Tremendous Hit left from the five-hole and made the front fairly easily when the betting favorite Mandinga, driven by Bobby Krivelin, made a break at the start. Mandigna’s mis-step caused second choice, Iroquoindianmagic driven by Alan Schwartz, to get a late start, too.

“When Bobby’s (Krivelin) horse made a break it cost me the race,” Schwartz said. “I lost five lengths and had to use my horse hard just to catch up.”

With Tremendous Hit cruising along on the front-end Schwartz got Iroquouindianmagic up to fourth by the half-way point. Then up the backside they made a run at Hechkoff’s trotter and as the two approached the third stanza  Iroquouindianmagic  could get no closer than a length behind the leader.

On the final turn Tremendous Hit trotted away open lengths and rambled on to an easy three-length triumph over Iroquouindianmagic. Third place went to Oliver Kiss and driver Tony Verruso .

Tremendous hit is owned by Hechkoff’s R.B.H Ventures Inc and trained by Brandon Simpson. He paid  $11.20 for win.

The next preliminary leg in the series is slated for Saturday, May 4th at Freehold Raceway. Actually the ninth and final leg on Saturday, May 11th will also be at Freehold Raceway. Then on Thursday, May 23rd the $14,000 Series Final will be contested at Yonkers Raceway between the drivers who earned the most points in the series.