Lappe wins NAADA Trot at Monticello
August 9, 2018,by John Manzi, for NAADA
Monticello, NY — The final leg of the North American Amateur Drivers Association’s (NAADA) Summer Trotting Series was contested at Monticello Raceway on Thursday afternoon (Aug. 9), and when the judges declared the event official, Jennifer Lappe walked away with all the marbles after guiding Multitaskr Hanover home first over Crystal Sphere and driver Alan Schwartz in 2:00. Woody finished third for Tony Ciuffetelli.
Geri Schwarz photo
Multitaskr Hanover and Jennifer Lappe were victorious in Thursday’s NAADA event at Monticello Raceway.
For Lappe, who has had 170 previous starts this year against her counterparts as well as against professional drivers, it marked her 16th seasonal driving victory to go along with her 26 second-place and 33 third-place finishes. However, Lappe won another race later on the Monticello Raceway card, also.
When the wings of the mobile gate sprung, Lappe grabbed the racetrack from post three and then allowed Keenan and driver John Calabrese to take command. Once Keenan settled on the lead, Lappe then moved Multitaskr Hanover back to the front as the quarter-mile timer flashed :28.1.
Comfortable on the front end, Lappe got her charge by the halfway point in :58.2, but when they straightened up the backside, Crystal Sphere and Alan Schwartz rallied alongside the leader and even gained command for a short way. Lappe urged her trotter and they rebuffed the challenge of Crystal Sphere before going on to a 2-1/4 length triumph.
“It was an aggressive race, and I gave my horse an aggressive drive,” Lappe said with a smile. “I had instructions before the race, but I nixed them at the gate and decided to go for the lead — and it all worked out well.”
The winner, a 5-year-old Explosive Matter gelding, owned and trained by Lappe, notched his seventh seasonal victory. He returned a $5.40 win payoff. For Lappe, it was her 40th driving victory and her 58th training win thus far this year.
The NAADA Series $6,000 consolation — if it fills — will be contested on Wednesday (Aug. 15). The $15,000 final — expected to fill — will be raced at Yonkers Raceway next Thursday (Aug. 16).