The Great Lakes Amateur Driving Association (GLADA) was busy on Saturday, Oct. 28 at Northfield Park with Henry Beachy and Larry Ferrari reaching the winner's circle in their respective events—and then a third time with the GLADA Club making a donation to New Vocations, the largest racehorse adoption network in the country.

Beachy kicked off the festivities rallying with his own Brigotto, squeaking by Over Six, handled by Ferrari, by a half-length in a mile clocked in 1:59.2. Fultons Fury was third for Don Sherman while Golden Compass, with Steve Oldford in the bike, was fourth just another neck back but a nose in front of Dontyousayit, who sawed off panels for Christina Johnson of :28.4, :59.3 and 1:28.4 in the tightly bunched field on the wire.

Brigotto won for the third time in 29 starts this year, pushing his bounty to $24,243. The six-year-old Bluto gelding has banked $217,810 career-wise.

The winner paid $15.80 to his faithful.

Ferrari reached the charmed circle in his event piloting his “bride’s” So Wishfull to a hard-fought victory with the mile (and, in this case, a mile and 25 yards) in 1:58.3. The margin was a quarter-length over a very game Another Breath, driven by Floyd Rhodes, with Golden Genes, handled by Eric Miller, right there third in the mix. Plumville Prince, cutting the mustard through panels of :29, :58.4 and 1:28.2, finished fourth for Don Sherman while Go Go George picked up the nickel for Justin Ferrari.

The first four were “two-in, two-out” the entire mile with Plumville Prince and Another Breath, outside, racing as a team with Golden Genes and So Wishful racing side-by-side right behind that pair. But it was So Wishfull who took “another breath” -- a deep one -- to hit the wire first, justifying his favouritism on the toteboard at 5-2 -- the mutuel being $7.

The win pushed So Wishfull’s seasonal scorecard to 5-3-4 from 21 starts, good for $36,841 this year for owner Keisha Ferrari. The seven-year-old Wishing Stone gelding now has 17 wins lifetime and total earnings of $132,752. 

In a post-race interview, Ferrari lamented, “Yes, we went a long mile but had nice cover so it really didn’t hurt him. He was gutsy when it counted, that’s for sure.

“But, I have to say, even more importantly, was the fact that we were able to make a nice contribution to New Vocations, helping in their mission to rehabilitate and train retired racehorses for useful, new careers as show horses, riding horses or in therapeutic ways.

“That is what GLADA is all about!”

(With files from GLADA)