It's not the first time that Alan Schwartz has won a NAADA Final and probably not the last time either.
With his victory tonight at Yonkers Raceway the talented amateur driver visited a winners circle for the 634th time when he guided his own pacer Raceace to a gate to wire victory over Dark Pool in 1:58.3.
"We cut all the fractions and It was real close at the wire but Raceace hung on for a nose victory. And a nose is good as a mile" Schwartz said cheerfully after the race.
With the field reduced to six horses Schwartz sent his pacer to the lead from post four and they had command at the quarter in :29.1. They had a length lead over Pilgrim Caviar (Joe Lee) when they passed the half in :59.4 and they were still leading as they headed up the backside but at that point Calabrese had Dark Pool (John Calabrese) out and winging and they ranged alongside Raceace when they passed the three-quarters in 1:29. And when they rounded the final turn and headed for home they were neck -and- neck all the way to the wire.
"When we passed the finish wire I thought we had won it but Calabrese wasn't sure. It was so close that we milled around and waited for the judges call and to my chagrin they posted our number," Schwartz said.
Third place went to Pilgrim Caviar.
Schwartz owns and trains the winner.