The seventh leg of the North American Amateur Drivers Association's fall trotting series is now in the books, as it was contested on Thursday afternoon (Oct. 31) at Monticello Raceway.
Driver Alan Schwartz sat back off quick early fractions and then came on to pick up all the marbles. He scored a one and a half-length triumph with Ladys Big Stormont.
Only five horses lined up behind the starting gate. Tony Ciuffetelli probably figured he could bottom-out the field when he put the pedal to the metal and sent Someway Same Hall immediately to the lead. The pair cut speedy fractions of :28.1 and :57.2 and were open lengths ahead of runner-up Ladys Big Stormont.
“Actually, Tony's decision to go for the lead worked out perfect for me,” Schwartz said after the race. “Usually I have trouble keeping my horse in a hole, but today I didn't have any, and when we closed the gap his horse was getting leg weary and mine was still strong”
Trailing by nearly three lengths from the get-go when Ciuffetelli's trotter passed the three quarters in 1:27.3, Schwartz said felt he had a good shot of reeling him in.
Ladys Big Stormont began closing the gap and when they turned for home only a length separated the two.
“After we straightened for home I felt very confident that we'd end up being the winner,” Schwartz admitted. “I could see at that point Tony's horse was beginning to labour and mine was still fresh.”
In mid-stretch, Ladys Big Stormont began to ease to the front and then went on to a relatively easy victory over the rain-dampened racetrack. Someway Same Hall held for second, while Bobby Krivelin rallied Permanent Joy from far back to finish third.
It was the eighth seasonal victory and the 44th career triumph for the altered son of Earl Of Stormont who paid $4.40 for the win.
Ladys Big Stormont is owned and trained by his driver. For Schwartz, it was his 12th driving victory of the year and the 620th of his illustrious amateur career.
(With files from NAADA)