by John Manzi, for the NAADA

Monticello, NY — The first leg of the international German-American Friendship Competition took place at Monticello Raceway on Wednesday (Oct. 2) with two races carded and after they were completed Alan Schwartz took home the trophies in each contest.

The visiting Germans are guests of the North American Amateur Drivers Association and will also drive against a different NAADA line-up at Yonkers Raceway on Thursday night.

However, the Americans weren’t too hospitable to their visiting friends at Monticello, especially Schwartz. In both contests Schwartz put his charge on the front end and played catch me if you can and not surprisingly no one could.

In the pace, Schwartz had the 5-1 shot Ryde About from the two hole and he wasted no time taking command. He sped unchallenged on the lead through fractions of :30.1, 1:00.4 and 1:30.4 before he charged home a five length winner in 2:01. Second place went to Orphan Victor, driven by German amateur Christoph Pellander, while the USA’s Gerry Fielding took home the show dough with Rose Run Kevin.

Ryde About, a 10-year-old altered son of Yankee Ryder, wasn’t even on the board in any of his 16 seasonal starts out of town but he did win a qualifying race here at Monticello in 2:04.1 on Sept. 25.

Sent off at odds of 5-1, Ryde About paid $12.40 for win. He is owned by PB Racing Stable of Illinois and trained by Mitch Mac Kenzie.

Perhaps Schwartz felt the front end was the place to be and he sent his trotter Superbe Rulah to the lead also. They coasted through fractions of :29.2, 1:00 and 1:29 and finished two lengths ahead of B B Smash and driver Peter Gerry in a nice 1:58.1, especially since the trotter came into this race after competing in $4,000 claimers. Third place in that contest went to German driver Peter Platzer with Monster Dragon.

Suprebe Rulah is owned by Schwartz and trained by Raheim Strong. He paid $5.90 for win.

Schwartz was asked if he felt ashamed that the Americans beat their visitors so badly to which he replied, “No, not at all. They did the same to us last year when we were in Germany.”

At the end of the first of the three leg series, the Americans lead the Germans 53-31.

The native Germans who are participating in the competition are mostly from Bavaria and include Peter Platzer, Martina Bredlau, Andres Schwarz and Christoph Pellander. The NAADA drivers at the Mighty M were Alan Schwartz, Bernie Boland, Gerry Fielding and Bobby Krivelin.

The three track series will culminate at Vernon Downs on Friday evening (Oct. 4).