by John Manzi, for the CADC
Monticello, NY — It began in May and now after eight different legs were contested the Catskill Amateur Drivers Club Pacing Series will culminate on Wednesday (July 27) with a final and a consolation.
The $3,000 consolation is slated for race number one while the top point earners in the series will compete in the $5,00 final which will be contested in race six.
Favored in the finale is Alan Schwartz’s Doug’s Boy who helped Schwartz gain the most points in the series. Doug’s Boy won four different legs and now will carry the favorite’s roll into the final despite having to start from the seven hole. With eight wins in 22 starts Doug’s Boy’s latest outing was a 1:58.3 victory in the CADC Series on July 17.
However, Schwartz and his pacer can expect some serious challenges from both Isn’t She Lovely and Big John B. The former was a wire- to-wire, 1:59.3 winner last week for George Casale while the latter was beaten a nose by Isn’t She Lovely when the two pacers tangled last week. Casale will again be up behind Isn’t She Lovely while Dave Yarock will drive Big John B.
A sleeper in the contest could be Our Ian, who has three wins this year, the fastest a 1:58.3 clocking two weeks ago. Joe Bongiorno will handle the driving chores for trainer Bruce Aldrich, Sr. when they leave from the six hole.
In the consolation, Laura MacNamara will drive the early line favorite, Up Held, and leave from post position three. The pacer, who likes to race on the front-end, is in a good spot to possibly notch his third seasonal triumph.