It is often said that there are horses for courses. And if that's so, how about drivers for who are a perfect fit behind a certain horse.
Case in point: Dawn Anderson and Take A Wish.
For the second time in the past few weeks, Anderson and the five-year-old Wishing Stone mare rallied to victory, this time with a come-from-behind triumph in the $15,000 North American Amateur Drivers Association (NAADA) Final at Yonkers Raceway on the cold Friday evening of December 18. On November 11, the duo teamed up for a 1:58.3 triumph in a NAADA leg, also at Yonkers Raceway.
But their victory tonight was amazing in that they came from seventh at the top of the Yonkers homestretch and then rallied to a going away one length triumph in the non-wagering contest that was held over from yesterday due to a heavy snowfall that besieged the northeast then.
Before the race, previous leg winners DWs Revenge (Brett Beckwith), from post four, and Exarch (Tony Verruso), from the seven-hole, figured to be the ones to beat, on paper anyway. And when the gate sprung, Exarch hustled right to the lead and had command by the first quarter in :29.4. However, young Beckwith moved DWs Revenge off the pylons as the field headed to the halfway point and they were second-over as the half-mile timer flashed 1:01.2.
As the pace quickened, DWs Revenge showed the way by three-quarters in 1:30.3 with Exarch on his chinstrap on the inside.
Meanwhile, Take A Wish was languishing at the back of the pack, but smartly, Anderson used the inside route to rally her charge from seventh at the top of the stretch to a stunning come-from -behind triumph over DWs Revenge in a 2:01.3 clocking. Exarch held on for the show dough.
Anderson shares ownership of the winner with Steve Smith. It was Take A Wish's fourth seasonal triumph.
Live harness racing was cancelled following the evening's first pari-mutuel race due to weather and unsafe track conditions.
(With files from NAADA)