by John Manzi, for NAADA

Monticello, NY — Maybe it was home court advantage but regardless of any outside factors, when the second leg of the North American Amateur Drivers Trotting Series was declared official on Thursday (March 19), Monticello Raceway-regular Alan Schwartz scored a decisive five length victory with his own Bad I Am in a time of 2:03.

Geri Schwarz photo

Alan Schwartz piloted Bad I Am to a 2:03 victory on Thursday.

Taking advantage of the early breakers in the mile Schwartz fired his trotter toward the lead and finally gained command after the first stanza was trotted in :29.4.

Once on top Bad I Am was never in trouble and the farther he went the more daylight he opened between himself and the rest of the field and at the wire Schwartz’s trotter was an easy five length winner over Flirting Deuzy, driven by Tony Verruso. Perter Gerry finished third with 41-1 shot Candid Man.

“We got away with an easy one after Tagmaster (Bob Hechkoff) and a few others went off-stride at the start of the race,” Schwartz said. “Although we had to work hard to get the lead, when we cleared Tony (Verruso driving Flirting Deuzy) we never had a serious challenge the rest of the mile.”

Now with a win and a second place finish in the first two legs, Schwartz is the current point leader in the three track series which will continue at Yonkers Raceway on March 26.