By John Manzi
MONTICELLO — April 25, 2003 – The field for this year’s Passover Pace didn’t feature high class horses, but attending fans were treated to a high class horse race when five horses charged to the finish wire just heads apart.
When the judges deciphered the photo, Mike Kimelman up behind longshot GT’s Ideal Lady got her up in the final strides to score a head victory in 2:02:4. It was the eight-year-old mare’s first victory in her last 49 starts.
For Kimelman, the squire of Blue Chip Farms, it marked the second time he has been victorious in the race featuring the talents of drivers of Jewish heritage, which has been presented annually the past five years during the Passover Holiday season.
Sent off at odds of 21-1, GT’s Ideal Lady returned $43.60; $15.80 and $14 across the board.
Dr. Douglas King, himself a former winner of the Passover Pace, set the early fractions with Lady Chablis but ended up fifth in the event.
Speeding to the lead from post five, Lady Chablis seemed comfortable on the front-end as she paced by the quarter in 29:3 and by the half in 1:00:4.
Even as she passed the three quarter pole in 1:31:2, Lady Chablis appeared to have it all in hand.
However, coming off the final turn a host a challengers made their moves and five horses charged to the wire together with GT’s Ideal Lady on the far outside with the most pace.
Benefiting from a good drive by Sports Eye’s Derick Giwner, Sanderize charged between horses to take the place money, setting up a 6-4 perfecta which returned $191.50.
Pete Lutman III, driving Skipper’s Cathy, skimmed the pylons up the passing lane to garner the show dough.

Ken McNutt In
Legends Battle
Add Kenny McNutt’s name to the growing list of drivers who have consented to participate in our Battle of the New York Legends on Sunday, June 22.
“With McNutt aboard, we now have confirmation from seven who were among the leaders on the old Roosevelt Raceway-Yonkers Raceway metropolitan circuit prior to the opening of the Meadowlands in 1976,” said Larry Roman, the prominent businessman and horse owner who has graciously offered to sponsor the event. “McNutt joins Del Insko, [William] “Buddy” Gilmour, Benny Webster, [Real] “Coco” Cormier, [Merritt] “Butch” Dokey, and Eddie Lohmeyer who will be competing in the driving championship that day.”
McNutt, who is currently the starting judge at Pocono Downs, brings 1,103 winners and purses of $4,296,824 to the competition.
When I asked if he’d participate in the Battle of the New York Legends, McNutt responded quickly.
“Sure I’ll join you; count me in” McNutt told me. “It sounds like it’ll be a lot of fun and I’ll be looking forward to getting together with my old friends again.”
Roman is offering $8,000 for the driving championship, making sure that everyone participating gets a piece of the action.