“He loves the Monticello Raceway track,” gushed Tony Ciuffetelli while he was hanging up the lines upon his return to the Mighty M paddock after his stunning 1:58 victory with Aventure in the third leg of NAADA’s Fall Trotting Series.
“He had won here in 2:00 in early August but after a month or so of not hitting the board he’s been getting sharp lately and he certainly raced real well today.”
Actually, it was Aventure’s second consecutive victory after having won a Billings Trot at Vernon Downs on October 2, and it was the trotters fifth win this year for Ciuffetelli who had purchased him earlier this season.
After starting from the five-hole Ciuffetelli made the winning move by getting in the two-hole ahead of The B Street Fan (Bob Davis) who was also on the limb as the field approached the first quarter in :28.4.
“It was real important that I find a hole and was lucky enough to fall in behind Alan Schwartz, who was on the engine with Imacrazynewyorker. He carried me until we headed for the three quarters where I moved Aventure off the pylons and we trotted to the front,” Ciuffetelli explained.
With Aventure in high gear after taking command the five-year-old Muscle Mass gelding poured it on and rambled home a seven-length winner while trotting the final two furlongs in :28.2.
After Aventure separated himself from the rest of the field the battle for second place ensued. Im Fabulous, second choice in the wagering, was in fifth position with a wall of horses in her path as the remainder of the field rounded the final turn but the John Turok-driven mare charged home to garner second money, a full length head of Dave Yarock’s Mr Ridgetaker.
The fans must have enjoyed the amateur contest since it was the best bet race on the afternoon card.
Aventure, sent off as the betting favourite, returned a $4.70 win mutuel. With his victory the veteran trotter raised his seasonal bankroll to over $30,500 for Ciuffetelli, who is also the horse’s trainer.
For Ciuffetelli, a retired correction officer, it marked his seventh seasonal driving victory and 34th of his amateur career.
(NAADA)