by John Manzi, for NAADA

Yonkers, NY — It’s not that Wygant Prince hasn’t been a valuable commodity, but in recent seasons the 10-year-old has had only one win in 57 previous starts. The altered son of SJ’s Photo, however, put on his trotting shoes Friday night (June 30) in the NAADA Trot at Yonkers Raceway and turned the tables on those who have previously kept him out of the winner’s circle.

With owner and longtime amateur driver Paul Minore at the controls, the former high school coach took advantage of the two-hole and sent his charge to the lead when the wings of the mobile gate folded. Wygant Prince led the field by the first stanza in :29.1. Perhaps by keeping a steady pace, no one took a shot at the leader as the field approached the half-way point where the timer flashed 1:00.2.

First to move was Hannah Miller with Rev It Now but they never ranged alongside to leader as Wygant Prince kept at his work. He was still in command as the field passed the third quarter in 1:29.3. However,in the lane Alan Schwartz, who was cruising along in the catbirds seat moved Lady’s Big Stormont off the pylons to challenge for the lead but Wygant Prince was not to be denied and trotted on to a one length triumph in a 1:59.2 clocking over Schwartz’s charge. Rev It Now faded but hung on for third money.

Despite having been lean in the win column over the past two seasons , Wygant Prince still scored his 27th career victory and raised his lifetime earnings to over $350,000. And for Minore, who began his amateur driving career in 1994, he scored his 89th driving victory.