Monticello, NY – Scott Bako ripped from off the speed for an upset while Rey Franco held the front for every step to take their respective divisions of the North American Amateur Drivers Association (NAADA) Trot at Monticello Raceway on Wednesday (May 13).
Bako delivered 13-1 shot Communion Money to a 2:00.2 victory in the first NAADA Trot division. Getting away fifth as odds-on favorite Doo Wop Kid (driven by Alan Schwartz) zipped to a :29.1 first quarter, Bako’s charge tracked steadily to a :59 half before swinging off the pylons for an attack. Communion Money vaulted three wide around stalled rivals marching to three-quarters in 1:29.2 and held his momentum all through the last turn. He continued gaining on leader Doo Wop Kid in the homestretch and nailed the chalk in the final strides for a half-length win while 51-1 shot Baby Tao (Scott Keppler) rallied off of Bako’s helmet to take third. Kilimanjaro NL (Joe Lee) sat a ground-saving trip for fourth.
Ann Yurenka owns and trains Communion Money, a 5-year-old mare by Crazy Wow. She paid $28.96 to win.
Franco later asserted The Last Chapter from the pylon post towards the top and took his competition pillar to post for a 1:59.2 win in the second NAADA Trot division. The Last Chapter secured command into the first turn while Raceace (Alan Schwartz) pushed for the top but got stuck on the rim moving to a :29.3 first quarter. Raceace maintained pressure on The Last Chapter to a :59.2 half before tiring, leaving the leader to coast to three-quarters in 1:29.4. All the while, Psalmsfortysixfive (Keppler) surged three wide from last and brushed towards the leader heading to the final turn but levelled off in the stretch drive. The Last Chapter strode to the finish for a 2-1/2-length win over Psalmsfortysixfive with Reel Em In (Lee) rallying for third and even-money favorite Southside Bar (Yogi Sheridan) emerging from a shuffle for fourth.
Cory Stratton trains The Last Chapter, a 12-year-old gelding by Chapter Seven, for owner Howard Jacobs. He paid $6.36 to win.
NAADA action continues next Wednesday (May 20) at Monticello with the 10th and final leg of the club’s spring series. First-race post time at Monticello is 12:10 p.m. (EDT).