A short five-horse field gathered at Monticello Raceway on Thursday (March 12) for a $5,000 trot. Ladys Big Stormont narrowly held off a hard-charging Multitaskr Hanover (Dave Yarock) in the second leg of the North American Amateur Drivers Association 2020 spring trotting series.

Accomplished amateur Alan Schwartz was at the controls, and he guided the veteran nine-year-old Earl Of Stormont gelding to a wire-to-wire 2:02.2 neck victory, the horse's first of the season and 44th of his career.

Starting from the pole position after two late scratches, Schwartz sent his charge to the lead, and when no one challenged he got his veteran trotter to the first stanza in :31.3. Left alone on the front end, Ladys Big Stormont had a 1-1/2 length lead over Multitaskr Hanover when the half-mile timer flashed 1:02.2.

“He hadn't been racing well this year, but today he felt strong and he went on to prove it,” Schwartz said of is trotter.

When the field headed up the backside the second time, Bob Davis moved Making Sparks from third position and charged at the leader, but Ladys Big Stormont rebuffed that challenge. At the top of the lane, Yarock tipped Multitaskr Hanover off the pylons and they took dead aim at Ladys Big Stormont. For them, the finish line came up too soon, and they had to settle for second money.

“I was pleasantly surprised that my horse was strong all the way to the wire,” Schwartz added. “This is the best race he's gone thus far this year.”

Schwartz, a longtime owner of harness horses who began his amateur driving career in 1988, scored his 621st driving victory. He owns and trains the winner, who paid $9.40.

(NAADA)