by John Manzi for the NAADA trotting series
and the Catskill Club’s pacing series
For
the past five weeks at Monticello Raceway Thursdays have featured races driven
by amateur drivers. And July 14th was no exception.
Two trots in the NAADA Series were carded as
well as a pace in the Catskill Club’s Amateur Series. When it was all over Alan
Schwartz and Peter Kleinhans were each victorious in their respective NAADA
splits while “Hurricane Hannah” Miller
copped the Catskill Club’s pace.
Schwartz
led the NAADA brigade winning his division with Lady’s Big Stormont in an
eye-opening 1:57.2 over Bob Hechkoff’s The Franchise.
When
the wings of the mobile gate folded Schwartz gunned his recent purchase to the
lead and took no prisoners. Lady’s Big Stormont, whom Schwartz claimed last
week for $12,500, zipped by the first stanza in a stiff :28. Still comfortably
in hand they were two lengths in front as they trotted by the half in :57.3.
Although Bob Hechkoff and The Franchise enjoyed a two-hole journey they were
outclassed when the field turned for home as Schwartz’s charge drew off to a
two length victory. Third place went to Woody, driven by Joe Lee.
“I
just claimed him here last week and he sure has a lot of trot, but he’s a
handful. He grabs on when jogging and is tough behind the gate and when scoring
down he’s on the muscle but he’s got a big engine,” Schwartz said referring to
Lady’s Big Stormont. “So I'll have to
put up with his ways.”
Trained
by Raheim Strong, Lady’s Big Stormont scored his sixth seasonal triumph and
paid $4.30 for win.
The
next NAADA trot on the Thursday card saw Peter Kleinhans send Toss Cartwright
to the lead in after the half and then jog away to 9-length triumph over
Typical New Yorker and driver Alan Schwartz.
Kleinhans
and Toss Cartwright didn’t see the pylons
until they wrested the lead from Tony Verruso and Up Front N Crazy as the two trotters passed
the halfway point. Then surprisingly, even to Kleinhans, his trotter began to
open daylight on the field and they cruised home an oh-so-easy winner over
Typical Newyorker. Up Front N Crazy took
home the show dough for Tony Verruso.
“When
we passed the half in :57.4 I thought
he’d (Toss Cartwright) be tired but I was I pleasantly surprised to see us run
away with the race,” Kleinhans said. “This is my girlfriend’s horse and I wish
she could have been here today to see him win today.”
Owned
by Collene Cash and trained by John McDermott, Toss Cartwright paid $4.80 for
win.
Amateur
racing’s current leading driver,
“Hurricane Hannah” Miller, scored her 18th seasonal victory when she
guided Stoman to a wire to wire triumph in a 1:56.1 clocked mile in the
Catskill Club’s pace. But victory didn’t come easy.
When
the starter said go Miller sent Stoman to the front from the pole position but
she had pressing company from Late Night Flight and driver Monica Banca. Their
horses raced head to head past the quarter pole in a swift :27.2, that was until Miller opened a hole behind
her for Banca’s pacer to fall into, which Monica did. But by then Ms. Miller
had little hope of giving Stoman a breather and they traveled by the half in
:56.2.
“I
was quite concerned with the fast early fractions but I didn’t want to get in
behind Monica’s horse,” Miller said after the race. “ The :56-half had me
concerned even though I had a snug hold on him (Stoman) right from the start.
Still they were fast fractions.”
As
the field headed for the third stanza Stoman had opened up a three-length lead
on the field. Barry Addison and KB’s Bad Boy—last week’s winner in this
event—began a charge at the leader but it was too little, too late and they had
to settle for second money. Shark Treasure rallied from far back to finish
third for Gerry Fielding.
Stoman,
a 10-year-old Market Report gelding is owned by Jason MacDougall and trained by
John Hallett, He paid $4.20 for win.
After
the amateur races at the Mighty M were contested, Miller and a contingent of
others hit the road to Saratoga Raceway—2-1/2 hour ride-- for two Billings
trots carded late on the Saratoga Harness race card.
