by Matt Zuccarello, GSY Series Reporter

East Rutherford, NJ — Another amateur trot race is in the books as eight trotters went to post in the first race on the Friday (April 21) night card at the Big M. As we have seen in many amateur events this year, there was a speed duel from the start but an unusual result happened this time around.

Keystone Thomas with Robert Hechkoff holding the lines, fought hard to get the lead just after the quarter-pole from Joe Lee, aboard Windsun Fireball. As Hechkoff was getting the lead he was challenged on the outside by Paul Minore, driving Creampuff Macdaddy. This battle went on for a half-mile as neither horse would give an inch or gain control of the lead. This made the first half-mile fractions very fast for this $12,500 claiming event.

After putting up a :27.4 quarter and :56.3 half-mile, Minore cleared. At this point the closers started to move on the outside but unlike many other races, he was still able to maintain his lead all the way to the wire at odds of 30-1. He paid $63.80 for a $2 win bet.

John Kokinos, driving Fox Valley Steffen, was a neck behind in second, while Toss Cartwright, with Peter Kleinhans in the sulky, ended up third. The final race time was 1:57.2.

This 7-year old-horse is by Ken Warkentin, is owned by another amateur driver, Kelly Walker, and his Kelly Walker Stable LLC. He is trained by Robert Baggitt Jr.

As the spring weather heats up, so does the exciting amateur racing action every Friday night at the Meadowlands. First post is 7:15 p.m.