A two-hole journey and a late rally was just what Marianna Monaco needed to guide 13-1 shot SB Fine And Dandy to a nose win over another long shot, 29-1 Broadway Bruiser, in the $9,000 American Harness Drivers Club Trot at Freehold Raceway on Saturday afternoon (Jan. 2).

Monaco played hardball and parked out all comers. Though she did, her trotter had enough in the tank to hold off a late charge from Broadway Bruiser and driver Tony Beltrami for a 2:02 win in the first amateur driving event of 2021.

Starting from post two, Monaco kept Wygant Prince and Paul Minore on the limb. After Minore found a hole along the pylons, Monaco braced for a challenge from 10-1 Always A Good Time, driven by Joe Faraldo. Headed to the halfway point, SB Fine And Dandy and Always A Good Time hooked up in a duel with Monaco's trotter still holding command all the way to the top of the stretch. As the two leaders headed for home just heads apart, Beltrami came from far back with Broadway Bruiser. SB Fine And Dandy was a scant nose better than Broadway Bruiser, with Always A Good Time just three-quarters of a length back in third place.

The winner, a six-year-old Iowa-bred altered son of Claudius Augustus, won for the sixth time in his career. He is currently under lease to trainer Edwin Quevedo. SB Fine And Dandy paid $29.00.

(AHDC)