Tony Ciuffetelli sat a comfy trip in rein to 6-5 favourite Reel Em In and struck from the pocket to win going away in the $7,500 North American Amateur Driving Association (NAADA) Trot at Monticello Raceway on Wednesday afternoon (July 19).
Call Me Thefireman (Anthony Verruso) launched from the pylon post to control proceedings through a :29.2 first quarter with Ciuffetelli settling into second with Reel Em In. Fair Glider (Joe Lee), caught wide after breaking stride towards the quarter, re-engaged moving to a :59.2 half and marched to within a length of the leader before soon tiring to the backside.
As Fair Glider retreated, P C Foreign Affair (Robert Ciavardini) plugged forward along the rim and went head-to-head with Call Me Thefireman to three-quarters in 1:29.4. P C Foreign Affair soon tired rounding the final turn, leaving Call Me Thefireman on a two-length lead spinning for home. But Reel Em In accelerated off the covered ride and powered past Call Me Thefireman in the stretch to post a two-length victory in 1:59.2. Judge Ken (Jacob Stillwell) took third and P C Foreign Affair settled for fourth.
Robert Dill trains Reel Em In, a six-year-old gelding by Crazed, for owner Anthony Mazzeo. He paid $4.30 to win.
NAADA action resumes next Thursday night, July 27 at Yonkers Raceway with the penultimate preliminary for the Summer Series. The NAADA Summer Series will feature a consolation at Monticello Raceway on Wednesday afternoon, Aug. 9 and a final at Yonkers Raceway on Thursday night, Aug. 10.
(With files from NAADA)