In the Great Lakes Amateur Drivers Association (GLADA) trot Saturday (April 17) at Northfield Park, a once very familiar name emerged with a driving victory. Don Sherman, whose illustrious career has seen him rein over 380 winners, added yet another victory to his resume when he guided Heidis Heart to a gate-to-wire victory in a time of 1:57.2.
But in reality its been quite a while since Sherman drove constantly. During the past decade, he's had a limited amount of trips behind the mobile gate. But prior to that, he was a prolific driver and trainer in the mid-west and he showed that talent again tonight.
On Saturday, he was behind Heidis Heart, the second choice in the nine-horse field and starting from the pylon post. Sherman drove her like she was the best, sending her immediately to the front and leading their competition by the first quarter in :28.4. But coming to the halfway point, Steve Oldford moved the betting favourite Gonna Fly off the pylons and out to challenge Heidis Heart for the lead.
The two trotters were then eyeball to eyeball up the backside and still as a team when they trotted by three-quarters in 1:27.4. When they rounded the final turn and headed for paydirt, the :28.4 third panel was more than Gonna Fly could handle and he began to lose ground to Heidis Heart. And when they headed for paydirt, Don Sherman's charge began to pull away. The veteran Uncle Peter mare went on to a three-and-a-quarter length victory in 1:57.2. Go Go George and driver Larry Ferrari rallied from far back to finish second while Gonna Fly hung on for the show dough.
Heidis Heart is owned by Judy Roegner and trained by Jessica Roegner. She paid $6.20 for win.
(GLADA)