Lee Morris and Tony Ciuffetelli both went down the highway with their respective trotters to win a pair of $10,274 divisions of the North American Amateur Drivers Association (NAADA) Spring Series at Monticello Raceway on Wednesday afternoon, April 17.
In the first division, Morris scored a 12-1 upset behind Everyones Talkin in a 2:01.3 mile. Morris secured the lead to a :30.3 first quarter with Reel Em In (Robert Krivelin) landing in the pocket and Brutal Storm (Andrew Adamczyk) sitting third. Brutal Storm mounted a first-over push on Everyones Talkin past a 1:01.4 half and upped the pressure to match strides with the leader through three-quarters in 1:31.4. Everyones Talkin met the challenge and held his ground through the turn before scooting away to a 1-1/4-length win over Brutal Storm. Reel Em In gave chase in third and Jumpshot (Joe Lee), the 7-5 favourite, came from second over off a parked mile for fourth.
Rob Harmon trains Everyones Talkin, a 13-year-old gelding by Donato Hanover, for owner Cusimano Stables LLC. Everyones Talkin paid $26 to win.
Muscle Dan also motored for the lead in rein to Ciuffetelli to take the other NAADA split in 1:59.3. Avoiding trouble caused by Southwind Larado (Robert Ciavardini) breaking stride, Muscle Dan sat cozily on the point through clip of :28.4, :59 and 1:29.2 while only meeting a brief challenge up the backside from Just A Passenger (Joe Lee). Ciuffetelli brushed off the first-over foe with ease and spun for home a length winner while Just A Passenger held second. Raceace (Alan Schwartz), the odds-on favourite, settled for third and Swan Factor (Scott Keppler) recovered from an interference break for fourth.
Ciuffetelli also trains Muscle Dan, a five-year-old gelding by Dover Dan, for owners Joseph and Albert Ciuffetelli. Muscle Dan paid $6.80 to win.
NAADA action moves back to Yonkers Raceway next Thursday, April 25 for the seventh preliminary of 10 for the club’s Spring Series. First-race post time at Yonkers is 7 p.m. (EDT).
(NAADA)