The first leg of the three track trotting series sponsored by the North American Amateur Drivers Association was contested at Freehold Raceway on Saturday afternoon, March 14.
When the judges hung the official signs, Jimmy Marshall IV and Bob Hechkoff were each victorious in their respective divisions; Marshall IV with Blazin Delores in 2:01.4 and Hechkoff with Pounce Hanover in 2:03.
Blazin Delores had drawn the pole position and young Marshall gunned her to the lead and they got away with a soft first stanza when betting favourite Rev It Now (Hannah Miller) made a break after the start.
As Blazin Delores trotted to the halfway point, David Glasser, with CSI Whats My Name, moved out to pick up the pace but they never cleared the leader.
Marshall’s mare still was in command and kept Glasser’s charge at bay, and when the straightened for home, Blazin Delores was still strong and finished an easy two-length winner over CSI Whats My Name. Keystone Sadie finished third for Peter Gerry.
The winner is owned and trained by Laurie Molnar. She paid $6.20 for win.
A second NAADA trotting division was won in similar fashion when Bob Hechkoff took no prisoners and went down the road with Pounce Hanover from the pole position and rebuffed an early challenge from Bad I Am, which forced driver Alan Schwartz to take a seat.
Once Schwartz took the two-hole, Hechkoff’s trotter was left alone in command and had clear sailing until the three-quarters, where challenges amounted.
Schwartz moved alongside Hechkoff’s charge and from far back came a hard-charging Windell Winkie and driver Tony Verruso rallying three-deep on the final turn. They were nearly side by side as they rambled through the lane and a photo was needed to determine the order of finish. The camera caught Pounce Hanover, a head better than Bad I Am, and Windell Winkie was another head back in third-place -- all three trotters timed in 2:03.
Pounce Hanover is owned by Hechkoff’s R.B.H Ventures Inc. and trained by Virgil Morgan. He rewarded his backers with a $4.40 win mutuel.
The next leg will be contested at Monticello Raceway on Thursday, March 19.
In the upcoming months, the NAADA members will represent the USA in international amateur driving competitions against the French in April and the Spaniards in June.
(NAADA)