Monticello Raceway's Heritage Drivers Series Final, dubbed the All-America Cup, pitted the winners of each of the eight preliminary races for different ethnicities on Monday, November 22. When the shouting ended, Alan Charles, who won the Passover Pace in April, emerged victorious.
Charles reined Daisys Shark to a six-length victory over Betsy Phillips and Carolina Storm in a 2:00:1 clocking. Ken Devaux finished third with Miss Unimpossible.
“Each of our preliminary events were for drivers of different ethnicities, so we called Heritage Drivers Series final 'The All-America Cup' because America is a nation of different ethnic citizens,” noted Eric Warner, the track's director of racing. “And as luck would have it, many of our top drivers won their respective ethnic races, so we had a field of good drivers in the final event.”
When the gate sprung for the Heritage Drivers Series final, Jordan Stratton, who won last year’s event, gunned Awaring Ledew to the lead. The duo had two lengths on Betsy Phillips and Carolina Storm when the quarter mile was passed in :28. Stratton kept the pedal to the metal and Awaring Ledew posted a :58:1 opening half-mile clocking as Carolina Storm drafted in second position. However, as the field headed to the half-way point, Charles moved Daisys Shark first over and they began to move up.
When the pacers straightened up the backside, the field tightened and Charles then began to urge his mare. When they neared the third stanza, Daisys Shark sped past her company and opened up four lengths. Only the margin of victory was in doubt at that point.
Charles, who in years past raced on the Yonkers and Roosevelt Raceway circuit, was jubilant in his victory -- his second in two starts at the 'Mighty M' this year.
“When I looked over the program I knew I had one of the best horses in the a race and had planned to leave, but when Stratton fired out of there I made a late change (and) took a seat instead," Charles said.
“I moved (Dailys Shark) at the three eighths and kept after her like my trainer told me to and we began to pick-up horses. When she got alongside the leader she got real brave and took off even without any urging. However, I did tap her a little in the stretch just to keep her busy.”
Daisy’s Shark is trained by Luis Collazo for owners Scott Goldstone and Martin Goldin. He returned $5.00 on a successful Win wager.
(Monticello)