by John Manzi, for the CADC

Monticello, NY — Doug’s Boy, a virtual cast-off a few seasons ago, notched his ninth victory of the year when Alan Schwartz guided him to a 1:58.3 triumph in the Catskill Amateur Club Series Final on Wednesday (July 27) at Monticello Raceway.

Geri Schwarz photo

Doug’s Boy and Alan Schwartz were all alone at the wire in 1:58.3.

After sitting back off a speedy :57.3 half, Schwartz and 10-year-old Doug’s Boy circled most of the competition up the backside and then caught the leader, Admiral’s Chance and driver Eric Taddeo, as the duo passed the three-quarters. And though they raced head to head around the final turn, Doug’s Boy was the stronger horse in the lane and rambled to a three length triumph over Taddeo’s pacer. Third place went to Dave Yarock and Big John B.

“He just keeps on amazing me week in and week out,” Schwartz said, while taking his picture with the horse in the winner’s circle. “This is his fourth win in his last seven starts and since I bought him early last fall he hasn’t thrown in a clunker for me — at least not yet.”

According to Francis McCahey, who happened to be on hand and helped by holding the horse in the winner’s circle, Doug’s Boy had a broken leg when he was a 6-year-old.

“I was at the Meadowlands a few years ago when Doug’s Boy was diagnosed with a broken pastern and the owners were told by a veterinarian that it would cost $300 to put the horse down. I couldn’t see this 6-year-old pacer being euthanized so I told the owners, who were stabled next to me there, that I’d take him and give him a good home if they gave me the $300. They liked that idea a lot better than putting the horse down,” McCahey related. “So I took him home and turned him out and eight or nine months later he appeared sound.

“He sounded-up and I later had an offer of $1,000 for him so I sold him. And then that connection sold the pacer to Schwartz a little while later for $2,000. Since then Doug’s Boy has made over $25,000 for Schwartz,” McCahey continued, and then added with a laugh, “I should have kept him myself.”

Also on the card was the consolation of the Catskill Amateur Drivers Series and that was won by Upheld who was driven by Laura MacNamara. After taking command near the quarter pole MacNamara kept the pedal to the metal and Upheld did just that as the veteran pacer rebuffed all challenges and went on to a 2:01.2 triumph over Artristocracy and driver George Casale.