GLADA Trot belongs to Larry Ferrari

Northfield, Ohio – December 17, 2023 – So Wishfull and driver Larry Ferrari teamed up to win the Great Lakes Amateur Driving Association’s (GLADA) weekly harness racing trotting feature at Northfield Park on Saturday night (December 16).

So Wishfull, a seven-year-old gelding, led his seven foes at every call and had 2 1/2 lengths of daylight under the moonlight at the wire, stopping the timer in 1:57.1.

Muscles For Life, handled by Steve Oldford, was in the garden spot through the journey and finished second while Dontyousayit, driven by Christina Johnson, nearly 10 lengths out of it half way through, closed fastest of all to get third. Wild And Crazy Guy, with Brandon Rhoades in the sulky, was next with Fly Jesse Fly picking up the nickel for Lauren Harmon.

Leaving from mid-pack post five, Ferrari sent his charge flying off the wings and out dueled the 10-year-old Muscles For Life to take command early and had an open lead of close to two lengths at the opening station in :29.1. From there, a perfectly rated second panel brought So Wishful to a half in a leisurely :59.2.

It was right there that Wild And Crazy Guy made his bid as he reached second on the outside but So Wishfull pricked his ears back and trotted his third panel in :28.1 to thwart that threat and actually widened lead a bit turning for home and coasted to the line.

SO WISHFULL REPLAY

In a post-race interview, driver Larry Ferrari said, “You know, So Wishful gives it all he’s got every time he steps on the track and he had been drawing outside the last couple of starts and had too much to overcome with some bad racing luck.

“Tonight, he had a bit better post and a good spot to get in the game earlier. He did the work tonight and I enjoyed the ride!”

Owned by Kiesha Ferrari, So Wishfull won for the seventh time this season to vault his earnings to $47,501—his best season ever. He also had his best lifetime “mark” this semester with a 1:54.2 mile over this same half-mile oval.

Off as the 8 to 5 tote-board favorite, So Wishfull paid $5.40 to win for his many faithfull.

For complete race results, click here: US Trotting Results

by John Berry, for GLADA