by John Manzi, for NAADA

Yonkers, NY — “I’d like to buy a barn full just like him,” said winning driver Alan Schwartz in reference to Ladys Big Stormont after they combined for their second consecutive victory in the third leg of the current NAADA Trotting Series. The events went to post Thursday (April 6) at Yonkers Raceway.

Their eye-opening seven-length 1:59.4 triumph over the half-mile oval soaked with falling rain marked the second consecutive week that Schwartz and his trusty steed were victorious together having won their division last week at Monticello Raceway.

“He’s been a good horse for me ever since I claimed him last summer for $12,500,” Schwartz added as he wiped the mud from his face. “Since then he’s won well over $35,000 for me.”

Although Ladys Big Stormont had won six times previously for Schwartz it wasn’t until last week, when he put him on the front end for the first time, that the outstanding amateur driver realized that’s exactly where the veteran trotter likes to be.

“I’ve always raced him from behind, but I sort of got stuck on the lead last week at Monticello; while racing there I realized he loved it and not only was he comfortable, but he was strong at the finish,” Schwartz said. “So tonight, after starting from the pole (position), I eased him to the lead and he did the rest cruising to an easy 1:59.4 victory over the muddy racetrack.”

Shelikescandy rallied to be second for Bob Davis while Current Crisis, a division winner at Monticello Raceway last week in the NAADA Series, finished third for Robert Krivelin.
It was the third seasonal victory for Ladys Big Stormont who is owned by Schwartz and trained by Raheim Strong.

Sim Brown won the second $6,000 NAADA Trot division with Dr. John Kokinos in the sulky.

Perhaps aping Schwartz’s front-end style on the muddy race course Kokinos sent his former stakes winning trotter to the lead and after stealing a 1:03 half, Kokinos then parked all challengers. Sim Brown did the rest trotting the final four furlongs in :58.3 en route to a 2-1/2 half length triumph in 2:01.3 over Wygant Prince and driver Paul Minore. A neck farther back in third was Sam’s Honeybee, driven by Billings president, Tony Verruso.

It was the first seasonal victory for Sim Brown a 9–year-old altered son of Angus Hall, who with this triumph, raised his lifetime earnings to over $600,000.

Also trained by Kokinos, Sim Brown is owned by Robert Santigata and Jennifer Lappe.

Both races tonight at Yonkers went for $6,000 purses and went as non-wagering events prior to the betting card getting underway.

The NAADA Trotting Series will continue next Thursday (April 13) at Monticello Raceway.