Monticello, NY — A short field of just five trotters competed in the $7,500 NAADA trot Wednesday (June 22) at Monticello Raceway but it probably didn’t make any difference to Raceace and driver Alan Schwartz as they made every pole a winning one en route to a 5-3/4 length victory in 1:59.3.

“When you have the best horse in the race the front-end is the place to be, so when the gate sprung I went right for the lead which we gained after a :29.2 first panel,” Schwartz explained after his driving victory.

Once on top, Schwartz let his trotter cruise to the half in :59 and they were two lengths ahead of Flyhawk El Fiero (Michelle Miller). The lead was opened to 3-1/4 lengths when Raceace scouted by the three-quarters in 1:29.3 and when they rounded the final turn and headed for pay dirt, Raceace was an easy winner in 1:59.3. Pilgrim Caviar (Joe Lee) was second best and Flyhawk El Fiero took home the show dough.

Schwartz owns and trains the winner, who paid $2.30.

Another amateur race, a pace in the Catskill Amateur Drivers Club, saw driver Jake Stillwell sit a pocket trip with Festive Joe and then rallied the Tony Mazzeo-owned, Al Annunziata-trained 4-year-old Roll With Joe gelding to a 1-3/4 length triumph in 1:58.3. Hypothetical finished second for Schwartz.

Festive Joe paid $11.40 for the win.