by John Manzi, for NAADA

Yonkers, NY — It was eight weeks in the making and on Friday (Aug. 4) the top point earners in the NAADA Summer Trotting Series convened at Yonkers Raceway for the $15,000 series finale. When the judges hung the official sign, Toss Cartwright and driver Peter Kleinhans emerged victorious, a length better than Hannah Miller’s Pine Tab in a 1:59.1 clocking.

Although it was a non-betting race Pine Tab, off two consecutive victories, figured to be the one to beat and Alan Schwartz took that to heart.

When the wings of the mobile gate folded, Schwartz sent his Lady’s Big Stormont for the lead and that move pushed Pine Tab to rebuff the challenge but the :28.1 first stanza took a toll on Pine Tab later in the mile.

However, once Schwartz found a spot along the pylons Paul Minore moved Wygant Prince out to keep the pressure on Pine Tab and the two trotters were heads apart at the first half in :58.2, they then raced side by side toward the third stanza. Miller’s charge, however, refuse to give an inch.

Around the final turn the eventual winner was still three lengths behind Pine Tab who had put away Wygant Prince. But in deep stretch trouble loomed for ‘Hurricane Hannah’ as the speedy first half began to take toll on Pine Tab and as the veteran tired and his strides shortened, Kleinhans saw a chance for victory. That’s when he got after Toss Cartwright and the Muscles Yankee gelding rallied to a one-length triumph over Pine Tab. Wygant Prince held on for the show dough.

It was the third seasonal victory for Toss Cartwright who’s owned by Colleen Cash and trained by John McDermott. For Kleinhans it marked his third seasonal triumph in just 10 trips to post this season and the 54th of his amateur driving career.