In just his 11th start in the bike, Rey Franco found the winner’s circle with 2-1 favourite The Last Chapter in the lone $18,108 dash for the North American Amateur Drivers Association (NAADA) third preliminary on Thursday, Feb. 5 at Yonkers Raceway.
Leaving from post four, Franco fired The Last Chapter forward and procured a seat behind pacesetter Muscle Dan (driven by Tony Ciuffetelli) heading to a :28.4 first quarter. Franco tracked the leader steadily through tepid fractions of :59 and 1:29 and lifted for the drive with fervor. The Last Chapter edged by Muscle Dan in the lane to grab victory by three-quarter lengths in a 1:59.4 mile while Fashion Forever (Dawn Anderson) chased off a ground-saving trip for third and Haloa (Helene Engblom) took fourth.
Cory Stratton trains The Last Chapter, a 12-year-old gelding by Chapter Seven, for owner Howard Jacobs. He paid $6.24 to win.
Franco, a native of Guatemala, made his pari-mutuel driving debut back in February of 2018 and made his last racing appearance in a non-wagering NAADA event back in March of 2020. His victory on Thursday came following a five-year hiatus from driving and qualifying.
NAADA action resumes next Thursday (Feb. 12) with the fourth leg of the club’s winter series. First-race post time at Yonkers Raceway is 6:45 p.m. (EST).
(with files from NAADA)