by John Manzi, for NAADA
Monticello, NY—The
final leg of the North American Amateur Drivers Association's fourth trotting
series of the season went to post at Monticello Raceway on Thursday (Nov. 15)
and to the pleasant surprise of those who purchased win tickets on Tough Get
Going were rewarded when Joe Faraldo sent the veteran trotter to the lead when
the wings of the mobile gate folded and then made every pole a winning one en
route to a 2:01.1 victory. And each lucky ticket holder received $47.00 for each
two-dollar wager.
“The crowd didn't have much
faith in my horse's ability in here today but I felt fairly confident that he
had good chance to win if things broke our way in the race,” Faraldo said as he
handed the reins to the caretaker upon returning to the paddock.
Tough Get Going has had some
trouble behind the starting gate on occasions but today wasn't one of those
days. When the starter said “go” Faraldo sent his trotter to the lead and was
challenged on the outside by Makin Trouble K and driver Joe Lee, But Faraldo
played hardball and wanted the front-end so he opened up a hole behind him and
Lee took back and found room along the pylons as they passed the first stanza
in a soft :29.2.
With the field lined-up
behind Tough Get Going the venerable trotter led them by the halfway point in
1:01.2 where Jennifer Lappe decided to move the 2 to 5 betting favorite,
Winning Princess, out to challenge and they ranged up alongside the
leader.“When we passed the half my horse was strong and I felt pretty confident
that we had a good chance to win it,”Faraldo related. “And when Jennifer
couldn't clear I felt even better.”
Although Tough Get Going and
Winning Princess raced side-by-side as they passed the three quarters in 1:31:1
the former got first call. On the final turn Faraldo's charge had opened a
length lead and despite a strong drive by Lappe her trotter hung and Tough Get
Going emerged a one-length winner in a 2:01.1 clocking. Four lengths in the
rears, in third place went to Makin Trouble K.
Tough Get Going is owned by
Joe Faraldo and Richie Banca and trained by Banca. The 5-yr-old altered son of
Kadabra won for the fourth time this year and raised his seasonal bankroll to
nearly $39,000. For Faraldo, a former Amateur Driver of the Year(2000), it was his
145th career win in the USA.
