by john manzi for NAADA
When country songster Jerry Reed warbled ‘When
You’re Hot, You’re Hot’ he could have been talking about Tony Ciufettelli
because no one in amateur racing currently is hotter than Ciuffetelli. The
former corrections officer reined his own Aventure to a come-from- behind
triumph in a time of 1:58.3 to garner the winners share of the $15,000 final of
the North American Amateur Drivers Association’s Fall Trotting Series at
Yonkers Raceway on Saturday night, November 5. (NAADA).
For the hot-handed
Ciufettelli it was his sixth driving victory in his last eight starts and 11th
overall
this year.
And for the first time this season a NAADA series
trot was placed on the wagering card which brings the Westchester Country oval
even with all the other racetracks that use amateur races as part of their
betting programs.
When tonight's NAADA Final was ready to start
Aventure seemed to have other ideas. Sent off as the betting favorite his
backers got a scare when Aventure went off stride behind the mobile starting
gate but Ciuffetelli stayed calm and got his trotter back on gait just before
the starter said “go”.
At the first stanza Aventure was fifth position
some seven lengths off Lady’s Big Stormont (Alan Schwartz) who was clear on the
engine. But as he headed to the half Schwartz drew company. Ciuffetelli was the
first to move off the pylons and the two others who followed that move became
non-factors.
As the field trotted to the three quarters Aventure
ranged alongside The Franchise (Bob Hechkoff) who was traveling along in the
two-hole behind Lady’s Big Stormont. As they rounded the final turn
Aventure and The Franchise traded positions and as they headed for paydirt
Ciuffetelli took aim at Schwartz’s trotter.
In the lane Aventure gained on Lady’s Big Stormont
with every stride and as they neared the finish it was clear that Ciuffetelli
and Aventure would be the winner despite the late rally by The Franchise. At
the wire Aventure was a length winner over the hard charging The Franchise with
Lady’s Big Stormont a head farther back in third place.
Besides owning Aventure, Ciufettelli also trains
the 5-year-old Muscle Mass gelding who scored his sixth triumph this year
and raised his seasonal bankroll to over $41,400. He paid $4.10 for win.
