by Matt Zuccarello, GSY Series reporter
East Rutherford, NJ — Ten trotters took to the sloppy racetrack in the first race on the Card at the Big M on Friday (Feb. 23).
There was a lot of action on the front end the entire race as several horses left the gate to gain positions near the front. As the dust settled, two of the three ladies in the race traded leads at the first two calls. there was Gold Medal Sean driven by Jenny Melander and Here Comes Numbers with Jennifer Lappe in the sulky and a the third, Annie Stoebe, aboard Uriel, who was parked trying to get to the top to take command of this action-packed trotting mile.
As the field turned for home splashing through the muddy surface, Tony Ciuffetelli, holding the lines of Aventure, off a two-month layoff, made his move going four-wide en-route to a length victory. He was sitting ninth for most of the race, some 10 lengths back at one point as he took back off the gate after deciding not to leave from the tough 10-hole.
His bettors were rewarded as he won for his second consecutive week and paid a generous $28.20 for a $2 win bet.
The race was timed in a swift 1:56 over the sloppy going.
Getting up for second from the back of the pack was another closer, Landonfitz, driven by David Yarock. Danish Durango, with reinsman Robert Hechkoff, hung on for third.
Aventure is a 7-year-old gelding by Muscle Mass and is owned, trained and driven by Ciuffetelli.
Don’t forget to come join us at the Big M every Friday night as the spring weather is just around the corner. First post is 6:35 p.m.