When Daniel Jones thinks he has the best horse in the race, he knows to put him on the front end. That's exactly what Jones did in the Great Lakes Amateur Diving Association trotting event at MGM Northfield Park on Sunday evening (Sept. 6).
With his charge, The Next Triumph, starting from the two-hole and being sent away at odds of 3-10, Jones put the pedal to the metal and gunned the seven-year-old gelding to the front from post two. Jones and The Next Triumph refused to relinquish the lead despite a hard challenge from William Rhoades' Impressive Chief.
Impressive Chief got the first call at the quarter-mile marker, but unfortunately for him it would be the last one he would get in the race as Jones played hardball and regained command.
The Next Triumph turned back all comers, trotting by the half in :57.2 and maintaining a length lead on his competitors as the three-quarter timer flashed 1:27. He then fought gamely all the way to the finish and held off a hard-charging A Royal Line and driver Larry Ferrari to win by a neck in 1:57.
It marked the fifth seasonal victory for the aptly-named The Next Triumph, who is co-owned by Robert Smolko and his trainer, Ron Steck. He paid $2.60.
(Great Lakes Amateur Driving Association)