Northfield, OH – Kandy Sweet, getting sweet handling from Ryan Deaton, took top honors in Monday’s Great Lakes Amateur Driving Association feature (GLADA) at Northfield Park.
The classy nine-year-old daughter of Team Six, overcame the second tier nine post and her seven rival to score in 1:57.3—her winning margin 8 1/4 lengths over a gutsy Supreme Rockette, driven by Susan Miller, who did begin her journey from the outside post and was outside every step of her mile.
Game On Girls, beginning from the inside post, was third for Madison Angus, a half-length better than the 6 to 5 favorite, Mister Sweet, with Terry Di Cicco in the sulky.
Peter Lets Go picked up the nickel for Brian Miller.
Despite the second tier start, Eaton had Kandy Sweet in stride when the wings folded, following Hame On Girls as Peter Lets Go and Mister Sweet were also in full flight in an all-out battle for early supremacy.
At that :28 opener, Peter Lets Go and Mister Sweet were inches apart with Mister Sweet clearing with Peter Lets Go relenting and Game On Girls next and an anxious Kandy Sweet ready to pounce from fourth as the field approached the half-way point in :58.1 with Game On Girls also moving to the outer flow.
Kandy Sweet kept grinding away and finally took command a few strides short of the picked-up 1:27.1 three-quarters and an effortless :30.1 finale left her with plenty of daylight at the wire over the late charging Supreme Rockette.
In a post-race interview, driven Ryan Deaton, handling the chores for trainer Cory Kreiser and owner Amber Najor, related, :This mare has a lot of class and both Cory (trainer Kreiser) and I looked at each other and thought, ‘Hey, she drew good tonight and fits well…sure beats the seven or eight post.
“She was acting really well and I thought ‘now’s the time to get in the ballgame.’
“She went grinding on the backside and never let up one bit to the wire!”
For Kandy Sweet, it was her fourth success of the season, boosting her seasonal bankroll to $28,581 and $408,785 lifetime.
It was her 38th lifetime win.
The winner returned $13.00 as the third choice in the wagering.
For Ryan Deaton, whose main prowess is on the training side of harness racing’s ledger, it was his second win of the year and 38th lifetime competing primarily in amateur events.
Veteran trainer Cory Kreiser earned his 117th training success of the season and recently went over the $10 million mark in career earnings.
GLADA is one of the most successful amateur driving clubs in the nation with all members donating their earnings driving in their events dedicated to charitable causes, among them aftercare for retired standardbred horses and teaching standardbreds second career as therapeutic horses aiding those in need ages 2 to 92.