An old proverb says 'the best laid plans of mice and men sometimes go awry,’ and that would be a good way to describe Monticello Raceway’s Godfather Pace, which was won yesterday for the second consecutive season by Jim Marohn.

Though the race was the eighth and final leg of Monticello Raceway’s Heritage Drivers Series for reinsmen of Italian extraction, it also carried a subtitle of ‘the pros against the amateurs’ since initially there were four professionals and four amateurs. But with a late scratch of a horse that amateur driver Joe Faraldo was to handle, and then a late driver change from Jim Marohn, Jr. -- who was hurting from a bout with a fractious horse -- to amateur reinsman Randy Ingrassia, the equal balance was upset. And when the pacers went to post there were four amateur drivers and three professionals -- and not surprisingly the pros dominated.

When the gate sprung, Kyle DiBenedetto and Four Starz Esquire took command on the first turn, but they yielded the front-end to Mike Forte and We Shall See N, who then led the field to the half. But before they reached that point, Marohn was out and going with Jus Trouble and they ranged alongside We Shall See N. The two raced as a team around the clubhouse turn, and when they straightened away in the backstretch, Jus Trouble and Marohn began to draw off and they went on to an easy victory.

At the wire, Jus Troube was a six-length winner in 1:59. Four Starz Esquire rallied to be second for DiBenedetto. Only George Casale’s third place finish with Artristocracy saved face for the amateur movement.

We Shall See N and Forte finished fourth with the last three slots held down by the amateur drivers. So, if a series of pros against the amateurs comes to fruition next season, the gentlemen drivers will certainly have their work cut out for them.

The race winner, Jus Trouble, scored his second seasonal victory and returned $4.90 on a successful Win wager.

Marohn, who copped this event last year with Flying Aftermidnite in 2:01:1, will now carry the hopes of Italian-Americans when he and all the other ethnic leg winners convene at the 'Mighty M' on Monday ,October 11 for the All America Cup, which will be the finale of the Heritage Drivers Series.

(With files from Monticello)