by Matt Zuccarello, GSY Series Reporter

East Rutherford, NJ — Under 41-degree weather and a sloppy track, it seemed like April showers made an early appearance on the last day of the month (Friday, March 31) in northern New Jersey. Two full fields of 10 went to post in the second leg of the GSY Amateur Series trot and pace races on Friday night and they didn’t disappoint.

The second race on the card featured the pacers and the early favorite to win her third consecutive Amateur of the Year title found herself back in the winner’s circle. Sent off as the overwhelming 1-9 post time favorite, Hannah Miller drove So Take That to perfection and won like a heavy favorite should.

Miller sat a patient sixth for the first half-mile of the race. One of the main reasons she did so were the suicidal fractions that Logan Powell, aboard Ring Warrior, set for the quarter and half-mile of :26.2 and :54.2. He was open lengths ahead of the field and still managed to hang on for second.

At this point in the race, Miller pulled her horse three-wide down the back side and went on to coast to an easy five-length victory to hit the finish line in 1:52.4, tying her world record mark that she set just a few weeks ago. Ideal Race, with Robert Hechkoff in the bike picked up the show dough.

So Take That is an 8-year-old gelding by Camluck and is owned by Patrick Tortorello and trained by Vincent Fusco Jr.

The third race on the card featured 10 trotters and in a similar situation as the previous race, the race winner came from off the pace. With Robert Hechkoff carving out fractions on the front end, where he likes to be with Keystone Thomas, Powell got away seventh but didn’t stay there for long.

After a swift :27.2 quarter-mile and a modest :57.2 half-mile, Powell, who was parked for a majority of the mile, made his move to the front and got there at the three-quarter pole with the betting public’s second choice, Detroit Rapper. He held off all challengers en route to a 2-1/2 length victory. This trotting event was timed in 1:57.2

Trotalot, for a second straight week, with James Dunn in the sulky, was placed second, after Windsun Fireball, with Roy Marohn holding the lines, was disqualified and placed fourth. Moving up into the third position was Keystone Thomas, with Hechkoff aboard.

Trotalot is a 6-year old gelding by Jailhouse Jesse, owned by L & L Stables and trained by John Mc Intyre.

Come down next Friday night to see the finals of this latest GSY Amateur Series contests. The purses that will be up for grabs are $9,000 and $10,000. First post is 7:15 p.m.