by Patricia Miller, for the Great Lakes Amateur Drivers Association

Hazel Park, MI — Yet another new winner wired the Monday (June 24) Great Lakes Amateur Drivers Association race at Hazel Park, as Joe Cirasuola led the field at a brisk 1:59.4.

The well known Michigan trainer/driver steered his own trainee V I P, a 7-year-old son of Muscles Yankee owned by Shirley Halas, out of the one hole and the horse lived up to his name and breeding, muscling his way to victory.

Count The Cost, trained by Dixie Buter and driven by Maurice Goldschmidt, got up for second and perennial favorite Smokin Steven, trained by John Bangert, puffed his way to the show dough, well driven by Mike Mitchell.

As the field of nine ripped from the gate, two breakers were left behind and Cirasuola took the lead at the quarter in :29.3. Mitchell was right behind him, followed closely by Count The Cost parked out in third. Last week’s winner, Miss Tiger Lily, in rein to Larry Steenbergen, was fourth on the rail with Patricia Miller’s Hay Look Out parked out in fifth.

A half time of 1:01.1 showed the same leaders as the quarter, but the race began to accelerate as the horses rounded the final turn. Count The Cost eased up to second place and Kara Buxton put the pedal to the medal with her Cacao Rust, pulling two wide, then one out as she followed Miss Tiger Lily, still in fourth.

V I P and Count The Cost raced strong in the stretch, but V I P wasn’t to be denied and caught the camera’s flash.

One more new winner adds to the pool of potential season’s champions. Next week is another chance for a new winner to join the growing list of successful drivers.

See below for the current club standings:

Name-Total Points
Larry Steenbergen-33
Mike Mitchell-32
Richard Roach-32
Kara Buxton-31
James McIllmurray-31
Stephen Oldford-29
Jerry Mihelich-21
Patricia Miller-19
Maurice Goldschmidt-16
Joe Cirasuola-14
Pat Currie-12
Junior Cole-10
Mitchell Walker-6
Michael Caston-4
Scott Galloway-1