Michelle Crawford wins Monticello NAADA Trot

MONTICELLO, N.Y.— Harness racing breeder, owner and amateur driver Michelle Crawford pounced uncovered to the final turn with Wicked Nick (Tad The Stud) 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 4, Wicked Nick landed in third while Onemoreswan (driven by Robert Krivelin) cleared command and cut a :30.1 first quarter with even-money favorite Cyclone Maximus (Joe Lee) sitting 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 corner. 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.

Michelle Crawford trains and co-owns Wicked Nick, a 9-year-old gelding, with Brett Crawford. Off the 2-1 second choice, he paid $6.20 to win.

WICKED NICK REPLAY

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).

For complete race results, click here.

by Ray Cotolo, for NAADA