Bob Hechkoff took no prisoners and sent Southwind Frost down the road for a 1:58.4 victory in the American Harness Drivers Club trot at Freehold Raceway on Saturday (May 8) and in doing so kept his main competition out in the fresh air.
Hechkoff grabbed command when the gate sprung and then played hardball, keeping John Calabrese and Ooh Rah parked all the way, and the overland route took its toll. When they trotted side-by-side past the half Ooh Rah was all-in.
Up the backside Southwind Frost opened daylight on his competition, and when he trotted by the three quarters he was 3-1/2 lengths ahead of Masster Blue (Tony Verruso) who was second along the pylons the entire way. Southwind Frost held command all the way to the wire, with Masster Blue finishing second. Third place went to French Moni, driven by Paul Minore.
Southwind Frost, a five-year-old altered son of E L Titan, is owned by R.B.H. Ventures and trained by Vincent Stallworth. Sent off as third choice in the eight-horse field, he paid $9.80 for win.
(AHDC)