The North American Amateur Drivers Association kicked off its 37th season with a Thursday afternoon trot at Monticello Raceway, and when the judges hung the official sign Joe Lee was victorious after he guided Soul Train to an easy triumph in a 2:00 clocking.
After getting away with a slow start from the four-hole, Lee was content to follow the leaders in the early going before he moved his charge off the pylons and then rallied to the lead which was theirs as the field trotted by the half mile marker in :59.
“I felt I had the best horse so I didn't want to follow the leaders and after we passed the quarter pole I moved “Soul” off the pylons and headed for the lead,” Lee explained.
Sent off the odds-on favourite, Soul Train opened up daylight on the field and led Wygant Prince (Paul Minore) by the half way point in:59 and were still in command as they passed the third stanza in 1:29.
After sitting in the cat-birds seat Brandos Muscle Man, with Peter Kleinhans at the controls, made their run at the leader as the field straightened for home . Although they trotted by Wygant Prince they came up short and had to settle for second money, 1-1/2 lengths behind Soul Train.
Joe Lee, who during the major league baseball season is the New York Yankee's assistant clubhouse manager, was thrilled with his trotter's performance today.
“He's such a pleasure to drive, Nothing fazes him and he's so handy. If you want to leave just ask him or if you need to find a hole he's responsive,” Lee said of Soul Train. “An old veteran (a $410,000 career winner) he knows just what to do.”
Lee co-owns the eight-year old altered son of Trainforthefuture with Blindswitch Racing, Good Friends Stable and Santo Farina. He paid $2.80 for win.
The second leg of this NAADA trotting series will take place at Yonkers Raceway next Thursday, March 21.
(NAADA)