On Thursday, December 5, Dr. John Kokinos reined supreme in a NAADA Charity Series dash at Monticello Raceway, as he steered Impressive Earl to victory in 2:02.
“It was a lot of fun,” Dr. Kokinos said with a big grin as he approached the winner’s circle.
Light rain and heavy fog made for a gloomy afternoon of racing, but that didn’t dampen the spirits of the doctor or Impressive Earl – nor did it deter any bettors whose confidence sent the pair away as even-money favourites from the rail.
As the wings of the starting gate folded, the doctor gunned his trotter to the lead on the first turn as the trailing horses ducked for cover along the pylons. With the field in straight alignment, Impressive Earl showed the way by the quarter in :30. The veteran trotter had two lengths on his competition as he passed the halfway point in 1:01.3 .
As Dr. Kokinos and his trotter headed up the backside the second time around, they began to open daylight on Tremendous Hit and driver Bob Hechkoff, who was in the two-hole from the get-go.
None of the trotters were able to even get close to the leader, as Impressive Earl opened up his lead to three lengths as he passed the third stanza in 1:32.
On the final turn, Impressive Earl came out of the fog with a four-length lead. Impressive Earl poured it on in the lane and finished an easy seven-length winner over Tremendous Hit. Tony Verruso got Rodeo Red up for third.
Owned by Jennifer Lappe the winner paid $4.00 to Win.
(With files from Monticello)
