Joe Faraldo and Andrew Adamczyk both converted pocket trips to wins in rein to their respective Mark Ford-trained trotters in $10,274 divisions for the North American Amateur Drivers Association (NAADA) on Wednesday, May 8 at Monticello Raceway.
Faraldo zipped through the stretch to win with Mufasa As in the opening division, timed in 2:00.4.
Leaving from the pylon post, Mufasa As settled for a seat behind Cellular (Scott Keppler) past a :28.2 first quarter and then found himself bottled as Swan Hilluva Time (Tony Ciuffetelli) marched uncovered on the rim. Swan Hilluva Time drew to match terms with Cellular to a :59.2 half with Kashas Boy (Alan Schwartz) perched second over. The field stayed stacked up the backside and by three-quarters in 1:29.3 as Cellular clung to the lead even all through the final turn. But once the open stretch came and the field spun for home, Cellular got swallowed by the charge. Swan Hilluva Time forged forward while Mufasa As dove through the open stretch to clinch the win by a head as the odds-on favourite. Explosive Ridge (Adamczyk) rallied from third over for third while Kashas Boy settled for fourth.
Mark Ford owns and trains Mufasa As, an eight-year-old gelding by Lionhunter. The trotter paid $3.90 to win.
Adamczyk later pounced from a pocket ride with Bully Boy to win as the 1-9 favourite in 1:59.1.
Bully Boy yielded for the pocket spot to Flashy Swan (Lee Morris) after a :28.2 first quarter and laid nestled behind the leader through middle fractions of :58.1 and 1:28.3. With no other challengers menacing to the final turn, Flashy Swan spun for home with just Bully Boy to rebuff but to no avail. Bully Boy surged off the covered trip to a 1-1/4-length victory over Flashy Swan at the beam while By A Hoff Hanover (McKenzie Sowers) finished another three lengths behind in third and Hunters Gal (Joe Lee) finished fourth.
Ford also trains Bully Boy, an eight-year-old gelding by Jailhouse Jesse, for owner Brenda Messenger. Bully Boy paid $2.20 to win.
Just one more leg remains in the NAADA Spring Series, which will go postward next Wednesday, May 15 at Monticello Raceway, before the final on May 23 at Yonkers Raceway. First-race post time at Monticello is 12:10 p.m. (EDT).
(With files from NAADA)