Northfield, Ohio– In the Great Lakes Amateur Drivers Association trot tonight at Northfield Park, a once very familiar harness racing name emerged with a driving victory. Don Sherman, whose illustrious career has seen him rein over 380 winners added yet another victory to his resume when he guided Heidi’s Heart to a gate- to- wire triumph in a time of 1:57.2.
But in reality its been quite a while since Sherman drove constantly. Actually during the past decade he’s had a limited amount of trips behind the mobile gate but prior to that he was a prolific driver and trainer in the mid-west and he showed that talent again tonight.
Tonight he was up behind Heidi’s Heart, the second choice in the nine- horse field from the rail position and he drove her like she was the best sending her immediately to the front and they led their competition by the first quarter in:28.4, But coming to the halfway point Steve Oldford moved the betting favorite Gonna Fly off the pylons and out to challenge Heidi’s Heart for the lead.
The two trotters were then eyeball to eyeball up the backside and still as a team when they trotted by the three quarters in 1:27.4 but when they rounded the final turn and headed for paydirt the :28.4 third panel was more than Gonna Fly could handle and he began to lose ground to Heidi’s Heart.
When they headed for paydirt Don Sherman’s charge began to pull away and the veteran Uncle Peter mare went on to a 3-1/4 length victory in 1:57.2. Go Go George and driver Larry Ferrari rallied from far back to finish second while Gonna Fly hung on for the show dough.
HEIDI’S HEART REPLAY
Heidi’s Heart is owned by Judy Roegner and trained by Jessica Roegner. She paid $6.20 for win.
For full race results, click here.
by John Manzi, for the Great Lakes Amateur Drivers Association