NAADA trots to Morris, Ciuffetelli

MONTICELLO, N.Y.— Harness racing amateur drivers Lee Morris and Tony Ciuffetelli both went down the highway to take their respective $7,500 divisions for the North American Amateur Drivers Association (NAADA) Spring Series Trot at Monticello Raceway on Wednesday afternoon (April 17).

In the first division, Morris scored a 12-1 upset behind Everyone’s Talkin (Donato Hanover) in a 2:01.3 mile. Morris secured the lead to a :30.3 first quarter with Reel Em In (driven by Robert Krivelin) landing in the pocket and Brutal Storm (Andrew Adamczyk) sitting third. Brutal Storm mounted a first-over push on Everyone’s Talkin past a 1:01.4 half and upped the pressure to match strides with the leader through three-quarters in 1:31.4.

Everyone’s 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 favorite, came from second over off a parked mile for fourth.

Rob Harmon trains Everyone’s Talkin, a 13-year-old gelding, for owner Cusimano Stables LLC. He paid $26 to win.

EVERYONE’S TALKIN REPLAY

Muscle Dan (Dover Dan) also motored for the lead in rein to Tony 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 favorite, settled for third and Swan Factor (Scott Keppler) recovered from an interference break for fourth.

Tony Ciuffetelli trains Muscle Dan, a 5-year-old gelding, for owners Joseph and Albert Ciuffetelli. He paid $6.80 to win.

MUSCLE DAN REPLAY

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).

For complete race results, click here: US Trotting results.

by Ray Cotolo, for NAADA