by John Manzi for NAADA
Monticello, NY—The
third leg of the NAADA spring trotting series was contested at Monticello
Raceway on the pleasant Thursday afternoon of March 28 and when the judges
declared the race official Alan Schwartz and his sturdy charge, Ladys Big
Stormont, emerged victorious.
Sent of as second choice in
the seven-horse field the 8-year old Earl Of Stormont gelding turned back six
rivals for an easy triumph in 2:01:2.
Claimed by Schwartz for
$12,500 four years ago, the victory was the 38th of the trotters
illustrious career who has massed over $310,000 in purse money.
In today's contest Schwartz
sent Ladys Big Stormont to the lead after they started from the four-hole and
they had command midway around the first turn but they were challenged by Joe
Faraldo and Tough Get Going who ranged -up on the outside. It was at this point
that Schwartz had to make a decision.“My horse races best when he's on the
front-end but I didn't want to get in a speed duel with Faraldo so I let him go
(take command) and then retook (the lead).”
The quarter time was a
relatively soft :29.3 and once on the lead but both horse and driver seemed
comfortable.
They trotted by the half in
1:00.3 and Ladys Big Stormont was easily in command as they passed the third
stanza in 1:31.2.
“On the (final) turn I
glanced back as saw the betting favorite, Permanent Joy (Bob Krivelin), in
third place but when he rounded the final turn my horse was still strong and we
coasted to an easy 2-1/2-length victory,” Schwartz explained.
Permanent Joy finished
second while Tough Grt Going held on for the show dough.
It was the 610th
driving victory for Schwartz owns and trains the winner who paid $6.10 while
notching his second seasonal triumph.
Now with three legs of the
10-leg series contested there has been a different winning driver in each
event. At series end the top three point earning reinsmen in the preliminaries
will vie for a chance to represent NAADA in an international amateur driving
competition in Italy later this year.
The series fourth leg will
be presented at Yonkers Raceway next Thursday.
