Michelle Crawford zoomed off a pylon trip and Alan Schwartz led pillar to post to take their respective $7,500 divisions of the North American Amateur Drivers Association (NAADA) Trots at Monticello Raceway on Wednesday afternoon (Sept. 13).
In the first division, Crawford settled into third with Wicked Nick while Fun Time Charlie (Scott Keppler) cleared command to a :29.2 first quarter. Fun Time Charlie stayed unchallenged and slowly widened his lead on pocket-sitter and 6-5 favourite Arch Credit (Joe Lee) through middle fractions of 1:00 and 1:29.2. Keppler built an appearingly insurmountable lead until Fun Time Charlie lost stride turning for home, leaving Arch Credit to inherit a tenuous lead with challengers swarming in the straightaway. Crawford tipped Wicked Nick off the pegs at the final turn and carried his momentum through the lane to secure a length win in 2:00.2 on quick-closing With Our Luck (Jacob Stillwell) in second. Brutal Storm (Andrew Adamczyk) closed from near last for third and Arch Credit settled for fourth.
Crawford trains and co-owns Wicked Nick, a nine-year-old gelding by Tad The Stud, with Brett Crawford. Sent off as the fourth choice in the betting, Wicked Nick paid $17.20 to win.
Schwartz delivered a flier in the second division behind 3-5 favourite Bully Boy, a victor in 1:58.4. Schwartz zipped to the lead from post five to post a :28.3 first quarter and had his competition struggling from there forward. Bully Boy moseyed by a :58 half and 1:28 three-quarters to then open a six-length lead heading for home. By A Hoff Hanover (James Slendorn), sitting second throughout, gave pursuit to hold the place spot with Call Me Thefireman (Andrew Adamczyk) hanging onto third from Cyclone Maximus (Scott Keppler).
Gary Messenger trains Bully Boy, a seven-year-old gelding by Jailhouse Jesse, for owner Risto Vidgren. Bully Boy paid $3.30 to win.
NAADA action moves to Yonkers Raceway next Thursday, Sept. 21 for the fifth preliminary of the Fall Trotting Series. A total of 10 preliminaries are scheduled for the Fall Series, which will go to final at Yonkers Raceway on Thursday, Nov. 2.
First-race post time at Yonkers Raceway is 7 p.m. (EDT).
(With files from NAADA)