by john manzi for
NAADA
“He
loves the Monticello Raceway track,” gushed Tony Ciuffetelli while he was
hanging up the lines upon his return to the Mighty M paddock after his stunning
1:58 victory with Aventure in the third leg of NAADA’s Fall Trotting Series.
“He had won here in 2:00 in early August but after a month or so of not hitting
the board he’s been getting sharp lately and he certainly raced real well
today.”
Actually,
it was Aventure’s second consecutive victory after having won a Billings Trot
at Vernon Downs on October 2nd, and it was the trotters fifth win
this year for Ciuffetelli who had purchased him earlier this season.
After
starting from the five-hole Ciuffetelli made the winning move by getting in the
two-hole ahead of The B Street Fan (Bob Davis) who was also on the limb as the
field approached the first quarter in :28.4.
“It
was real important that I find a hole and was lucky enough to fall in behind
Alan Schwartz, who was on the engine with Imacrazynewyorker. He carried me
until we headed for the three quarters where I moved Aventure off the pylons
and we trotted to the front,” Ciuffetelli explained.
With
Aventure in high gear after taking command the 5-year-old Muscle Mass gelding
poured it on and rambled home a seven-length winner while trotting the final
two furlongs in :28.2.
After
Aventure separated himself from the rest of the field the battle for second
place ensued. I’m Fabulous, second choice in the wagering, was in fifth
position with a wall of horses in her path as the remainder of the field
rounded the final turn but the John Turok-driven mare charged home to
garner second money, a full length head of Dave Yarock’s Mr.
Ridgetaker.
The
fans must have enjoyed the amateur contest since it was the best bet race on
the afternoon card.
Aventure,
sent off as the betting favorite, returned a $4.70 win mutuel. With his victory
the veteran trotter raised his seasonal bankroll to over $30,500 for
Ciuffetelli, who is also the horse’s trainer.
For Ciuffetelli, a retired correction officer, it
marked his seventh seasonal driving victory and 34th of his amateur
career.
