Yonkers, NY – In just his 11th start in the bike, Rey Franco found the winner’s circle with 2-1 favorite The Last Chapter in the lone $13,400 dash for the North American Amateur Drivers Association (NAADA) third preliminary on Thursday night (Feb. 5) at Yonkers Raceway.
Leaving from post 4, Franco fired The Last Chapter forward and procured a seat behind pacesetter Muscle Dan (driven by Tony Ciuffetelli) heading to a :28.4 first quarter. Franco tracked the leader steadily through tepid fractions of :59 and 1:29 and lifted for the drive with fervor. The Last Chapter edged by Muscle Dan in the lane to grab victory by three-quarter lengths in a 1:59.4 mile while Fashion Forever (Dawn Anderson) chased off a ground-saving trip for third and Haloa (Helene Engblom) took fourth.
Cory Stratton trains The Last Chapter, a 12-year-old gelding by Chapter Seven, for owner Howard Jacobs. He paid $6.24 to win.
Franco, a native of Guatemala, made his pari-mutuel driving debut back in February of 2018 and made his last racing appearance in a non-wagering NAADA event back in March of 2020. His victory on Thursday came following a five-year hiatus from driving and qualifying.
NAADA action resumes next Thursday (Feb. 12) with the fourth leg of the club’s winter series. First-race post time at Yonkers Raceway is 6:45 p.m. (EST).