Monticello, NY – On a mid 50 degree warm fall day, the amateur pacers invaded the Catskills oval for the fourth and seventh races on the card for Wednesday (Nov. 4).

In the GSY event, two horses left hard for the lead and yes for another consecutive week, a speed duel ensued. Relative newcomer to the series Miquel Alejo-Hernandez, driving the old classy gelding, Roland and Rock, left hard from his two post position and wasn’t relinquishing the lead to anyone.

That left Joe Lee, aboard Burning Desire, out for the entire mile and took its toll on him. Usually a speed duel would set the race up for the closers, but not today. Alejo-Hernandez was able to keep his momentum going all the way to the wire to win by just over a length in a mile timed in 1:56.4.

Pocket sitter Northern Assassin A (Christopher Petrelli) finished second and Carolina Magic (Marianna Monaco) rounded out the trifecta. The 8-year-old gelding is out of Rocknroll Hanover, is owned by Duane and Connie Roland of Iowa and trained by Rob Harmon.

The Catskill Amateurs took center stage in the seventh race on the card and there wasn’t a speed duel in this one. Last week’s winner, Ideal Candidate (Christopher Petrelli) took a relatively easy lead and held this until stretch. That is when pocket sitter Blacktree (Andrew Adamczyk) snuck up the cones for the win. Chance To See(Marianna Monaco) got up for second and Petrelli faded to third. The mile went in 2:00. The 9-year-old gelding out of Dali is owned and trained by Adamczyk himself.

There is plenty of amateur action taking place at multiple tracks weekly, the GSY continues back at the Meadowlands this Friday night.