by David Krepow, for The American Harness Drivers Club

Cherry Hill, NJ — Veteran amateur racer Bob Hechkoff steered his own Art’s Regards to victory for trainer Jim Doherty, Jr. in the American Harness Drivers Club’s $4,000 Winter Pacing Final on Friday (Jan. 15) at the Meadowlands.

This event pitted the top ten drivers from the AHDC’s abbreviated 2009 Fall Pacing Series based on their finish in the two divisions contested on Nov. 28 at Freehold Raceway.

The owner and president of Hechkoff Executive Search, Inc. is certainly no stranger to the Meadowlands winner’s circle as a member of the AHDC as he now has several final championships to his credit. With the victory in the Winter Pacing Final, the resident of Manhattan, N.Y. can now add another bullet-point to his already impressive driving resume.

Through the first three-quarters of the mile Hechkoff and Art’s Regards had deftly worked a textbook pocket trip behind the pacesetters, John Regina and Jenna’s World. George Munniskma and his mount Ludi Christy were hanging gamely first-over after an overland trip, featuring a three-wide detour around Karyn Malinowski and Hugme Christi. Trapped on the outside from the start, Dr. Malinowski had little choice but to make a desperate attempt at the lead. By the half-mile mark, Hugme Christi had called it a night and was backing through the field.

As they wheeled around the turn and funneled into the long Meadowlands home stretch, Regina was still clinging to his advantage. On the outside, Munniksma had come off the turn a bit wide, creating the seam that Hechkoff had been waiting for. Hechkoff seized the opportunity and wasted little time in firing Art’s Regards out from the cones into the outer flow.

With plenty of gas left in the tank, Art’s Regards and Hechkoff easily sidestepped beyond Munniksma to engage Regina and the now battle-weary Jenna’s World.

Jenna’s World stubbornly fought to hold the lead deep into the stretch, but could not hold off the much fresher Art’s Regards. In the shadow of the wire, it appeared that Hechkoff was poised to waltz home to victory. However, from the back in the pack, Neil Goldstein had shaken loose with Sinbad. They were moving like a locomotive in the center of the racetrack.

Unfortunately, Goldstein’s challenge came up just short as Hechkoff and Art’s Regards passed under the wire just a neck in front of the hard-charging Sinbad to take the Winter Pacing Final Championship. Time of the mile over a fast racing surface was 1:58 after fractions of :28, :58.3 and 1:28. Munniksma took the show spot with Ludi Christy while Regina and a fading Jenna’s World hung in for fourth.

Rounding out the participants were Billings Gold Cup champion Anthony Verusso and It Fits, Phil Winkler and Blazing Finale, Harry Landy with Blue Man Group, David Yarock teaming with Heidi’s Character and Dr. Karyn Malinowski with Hugme Christi.

Keep up with all the news of the American Harness Drivers Club by visiting www.ahdcracing.com.