Wicked Nick pounced uncovered to the final turn with Michelle Crawford in the bike and scooted clear to a 2:01.4 victory in the $7,500 North American Amateur Drivers Association (NAADA) Trot on Wednesday afternoon (May 3) at Monticello Raceway.
Leaving from post four, Wicked Nick landed in third while Onemoreswan (Robert Krivelin) cleared to command and cut a :30.1 first quarter with even-money favourite Cyclone Maximus (Joe Lee) sitting in the pocket. The field stayed single file past a 1:01.4 half and broke rank when Crawford activated Wicked Nick out of the third.
Wicked Nick loomed along the rim to match strides with the leader by three-quarters in 1:32.2 and disposed of him with ease off the bottom turn. Crawford coasted clear to a 1-3/4-length victory with Cyclone Maximus snagging second from a faltering Onemoreswan while Judge Ken (Jacob Stillwell) took fourth.
Crawford trains and co-owns Wicked Nick, a nine-year-old gelding by Tad The Stud, with Brett Crawford.
Sent off as the 2-1 second choice, Wicked Nick paid $6.20 to win.
NAADA action is slated to shift back to Yonkers Raceway next Thursday (May 11). First-race post time at Yonkers is 7 p.m. (EDT).
(NAADA)