Yonkers, NY — After 10 grueling legs of the North American Amateur Drivers Association’s Spring Trotting Series, Joe Faraldo and gelding Tough Get Going posted a wire-to-wire 1:59.4 triumph wire-to-wire the $15,000 final, which was presented on the betting card at Yonkers Raceway on Thursday (May 23).

“When the gate sprung, I kept my eyes on the rail horse (Fiji), but he got away slowly, so I hustled my horse to the front and we had command on the first turn,” Faraldo said after the race. “But as soon as I had the lead, Joe Lee, with the odds-on favorite Soul Train, came calling on the outside, and we passed the first quarter in :28.3. I knew at that point I couldn’t let him go, so we locked horns by the half in :57.4.”

After the swift early fractions, Lee found room behind Faraldo as they headed for the three-quarters, and they were one-two past that stanza in 1:27.4. Unable to gain any ground on Tough Get Going, Lee had little choice but to follow the leader. On the final turn, they were joined by Bob Krivelin and Permanent Joy. But there was no catching Faraldo, as his trotter cruised home a 2-1/2 length winner. Soul Train finished second and Permanent Joy was a half length farther back in third place.

Tough Get Going is co-owned by Faraldo and trainer Richie Banca. He paid $15.00.

It was Faraldo’s 148th driving victory in the States to go along with a handful in Europe.

Faraldo, Alan Schwartz and a NAADA member to be named, will be winging their way to Italy in July for an international driving competition.