by john manzi for NAADA
On
Thursday evening (May 4) two $6000 divisions of the North American Amateur
Drivers Association Spring Trotting Series were contested over the double oval
at Yonkers Raceway with both events raced as non-wagering affairs prior to the
betting card getting underway. Peter Kleinhans won the first split with Toss
Cartwright in 1:59.4 while the second division went to John Kokinos when he
reined Sim Brown home first in a 1:59.2 clocking.
Although
Kokinos breezed to an easy five- length triumph Kleinhans had to work hard to
keep Hannah Miller and Rev It Now at bay to score short nose victory. In fact
the finish was so close that Rev It Now got the last call but the judge’s
review of the photo finish showed a different result.
Kleinhans
and Toss Cartwright took command as the gate folded and they led through
fractions of :29; :58.2 and 1:29 with Rev It Now and Hannah Miller shadowing
the pacesetter’s every move. When they rounded the final turn the top two
trotters were open lengths ahead of the trailing horses and as they
straightened for home “Hurricane Hannah” moved Rev It Now out to challenge and
a battle then ensued as the two trotters raced head-to-head down the long
stretch and all the way to the wire and despite Rev It Now getting the last
call it was Toss Cartwright who walked away with the lion’s share of the purse.
Third place, some three lengths in the rears, was Windsun Fireball, driven by
John Nicholson.
The
race winner is owned by Coleen Cash and trained by John McDermott. For
Kleinhans it was his first winning drive in four seasonal starts this year and
52of his amateur career.
In
late May Kleinhans will be among the six NAADA members who will travel to
France for a Friendship Competition against members of UNAT (Union Nationale
des Amateurs du Trot) -the French amateur organization.
In
the other division Dr. John Kokinos made a laugher out of the race when he sent
Sim Brown to the lead from the two-hole and then made every pole a winning one
en route to a five-length triumph over Kerfuffle Cookie and driver Peter Gerry.
Third place went to Jelectric who was handled by Bob Davis.
Sim
Brown coasted through early fractions of :30.1; 1:00.3 before Kokinos put the
pedal to the metal and his trotter began to draw clear of the competition and
the farther they went to bigger to lead became until they coasted to an
oh-so-easy victory.
Sim
Brown is owned by Robert Santagata and Jennifer Lappe and Kokinos also doubles
as the horse’s trainer. It was the second seasonal victory for the 9-year old
Angus Hall gelding who now has purse earnings in excess of $605,000.
