by John Manzi for NAADA
Monticello, NY—In what
started out as a furious contest for position ended in a romp for Soul Train
and driver Joe Lee as the duo scored their second consecutive triumph in the
NAADA Trotting Series this week at Monticello Raceway on Thursday afternoon,
May 9.
Lee, the New York Yankee's
assistant locker room manager, bided his time and watched the early speed duel
between Joe Faraldo, with Tough Get Going, and Alan Schwartz, up behind Ladys
Big Stormont, and then rallied and picked up all the pieces to turn the contest
into a laugher, winning by eight lengths in a time of 1:59.2.
After Schwartz had gained
command when the starter said go, Faraldo came alongside with a rush and
Schwartz grabbed leather and let him go. But as they approached the first
stanza Schwartz wanted to retake which he did but not after he was forced to
trot at :29.3 second quarter before he had command.
Meanwhile, Lee had settled
along the pylons in the early going and after the battle on the front-end he
moved his trotter to the outside as the field neared the halfway point.
“I floated out of there and
watched the leaders battle royally and when the dust settled I sent my trotter
toward the front-end and “ole Soul” knew just what to do as he trotted to the
lead and opened up daylight up the backside,” Lee said.
At that point Soul Train had
three lengths on his competition at the three quarters and from there only the
margin of victory was in doubt as Soul Train coasted home an easy winner.
Connie Keeper (Tony Verruso) nosed-out Ladys Big Stormont for second money.
The 8-year-old Trainforthefuture
gelding is co-owned by Lee and Blindswitch Racing, Good Friends Stable and
Santo Farino. He paid $3.20 for win.
