Monticello, NY — When driver Alan Schwartz realized that the field in the $5,000 NAADA Trot at Monticello Raceway on Thursday afternoon (Nov. 19) was narrowed to just six starters by post time his spirits rose since he had the favorite, Ladys Big Stormont, who’d start from the far outside.

But all didn’t go as expected. His trotter was rough behind the gate and when the starter said ‘go’ Ladys Big Stormont was sluggish leaving, a far cry from the horse’s usual habits.

Joe Lee hustled Coco Hall to the lead from the two-hole and then grabbed leather to allow Ladys Big Stormont to take command in the soft :30 first panel. With Schwartz on the lead the eventual winner Coco Hall was more than content to sit the pocket behind the favorite.

“I was surprised that the first quarter was so soft but I was plenty happy to be in the two-hole,” Lee said later. “I didn’t know at the time that Alan’s horse wasn’t himself today but I was sure going to enjoy a covered journey near all the action anyway.”

Ladys Big Stormont got the short field by the half in 1:01.2 and then began to open some daylight on the trailers. At the three-quarters it was still the race favorite showing the way with Coco Hall and driver Joe Lee waiting patiently until the top of the lane so he could angle his charge down along the pylons and have a clear shot at the wire.

“When my horse saw daylight at the top of the stretch he grabbed the bit and put it in another gear and then he trotted alongside the leader and finished him off in the final strides,” Lee explained.

Coco Hall hit the finish line first in a time of 2:01.3 by three-quarters of a length over Ladys Big Stormont. Garnet, who started from the pole position, finished third, 2-1/2 lengths behind the winner, with the ever-improving Christopher Doherty at the lines.

Coco Hall, a 6-year-old Amigo Hall mare, is owned by Brenda Messenger and Dr. Scott Woogen and is trained by Gary Messenger. She returned a $7.00 win payoff.