by Patricia P. Miller, for GLADA

Hazel Park, MI — The trotter may be small but she is mighty and fast and Richard Roach drove her to his second victory in the GLADA summer series on Monday (July 30) at Hazel Park.

My Littlej, a 7-year-old mare by Lockkeeper, owned and trained by Jeff Pickvet, ripped away from the five hole and never looked back, wiring the race in a fast time of 1:59.2. In a tight finish, Ace Hanover, driven by Club president Steve Oldford, shadowed her all the way in second place, but couldn’t catch her.

Eight amateur club drivers took to the track on a beautiful moonlit evening, cooler at last after blasting heat in July. The usual mad rush for position as the gate folded found Mylittlej in first at the quarter in :28.4, with Ace Hanover on her heels, and Smokin Steven, doing some hot racing of his own in rein to Mike Mitchell, in third. By the half, a slow second quarter found the same three horses in order in 1:00.1.

But the trotters got their second wind as the drivers yelled and clucked and the speed increased to the three-quarter pole in 1:29.4. The field turned for home and the red hot stretch duel went right to the wire with Roach and his mare up for the win by 1-3/4 lengths. Jedrik Hanover, driven by Kelly Walker, got up for third as Smokin Steven ran out of gas.

A sparkling-eyed Roach grinned and said of his second win with her, “She’s a good little mare and she tries really hard. She’s fun to drive and gives it all she’s got.”

A former professional driver, Roach came back to driving after a long layoff and is really enjoying his amateur driving years.

The evening’s race began on a somber note as the post parade passed silently before the stands. Former GLADA championship winner, Mark Jones, passed away on Saturday and he was honored at the start of the GLADA race with a statement of his loss and a long silence to honor his memory. Jones was an established owner, trainer and driver and a generous friend to all. He will be greatly missed.