by john manzi for
NAADA
‘It’s
a pleasure when you have something between the shafts”, were the first words
out of Alan Schwartz’s mouth upon his return to the paddock after driving Linda
Marie to a new lifetime record winning the first leg of the North
American Amateur Drivers Association’s (NAADA) three track Fall Trotting
Series in 1:58.1 at Monticello Raceway on Thursday afternoon, September 22.
After
starting from the three-hole Schwartz hustled the 5-year-old Crazed mare to the
lead when the starting judge said “go” and while still on the first turn
allowed Bob Hechkoff to take command with Trotalot. Both drivers were aided in
their quest for victory when the betting favorite, Here Comes Numbers (John
Kokinos), went off stride at the start.
After
Schwartz grabbed leather and allowed Hechkoff to show the way they then raced
one-two by the first stanza in :28.4. The order remained the same past the half
in :59.2 and at the third stanza Schwartz had Linda Marie tight on Hechkoff’s
back.
“I
had a handful of horse as we shadowed Hechkoff and on the final turn she wanted
to go so I moved her off the pylons,” Schwartz related. “Once she saw daylight
I just let her ramble and she ranged alongside Trotalot as we
headed for home.
“Then
in the lane, when I tried to pull the ear plugs, they got stuck but it didn’t
matter. She (Linda Marie) was in high gear and she trotted on to an easy
victory.
Schwartz
wasn’t lying. Linda Marie trotted the last quarter in :28.3 en route to her
third seasonal victory. Trotalot was second with Imacrazynewyorker getting up
for the show dough, albeit 11 lengths behind the winner.
Linda
Marie is owned and trained by Jimmy Doherty Jr. She paid $7.20 for win. For
Schwartz, it was his 572nd driving victory, the most of any active
amateur driver.
The
international amateur driving club kicked off its three-track fall series here
at the Mighty M with races to follow at Yonkers Raceway and Freehold Raceway.
The NAADA Trot Series will culminate with a $15,000 final at Yonkers on
November 3rd.
