With the addition of three added driving entrants the sixth leg of the NAADA trotting series, this week presented at Yonkers Raceway, was split into two divisions.

A pair of six-horse fields competing for purses of $8,000 were conducted before the betting card. And when the judges hung the official signs, series regulars Alan Schwartz and Paul Minore each hustled their charges to victories in their respective splits.

Schwartz went an overland trip with his Ladys Big Stormont to score a 2:00.2 triumph while Minore used the front-end route to 2:01.4 victory with his own Glenferrie Dreamer over his rivals.

In Schwartz's contest, he left softly from the five-hole with Ladys Big Stormont, took a tuck and was third along the pylons. Pearly Allen showed the way with Wygant Prince with Joe Pennacchio and Santini caught on the limb in the :28.4 first stanza.

Heading to the half Wygant Prince and Santini were head-to-head with the former getting first call as the timer flashed :59. But up the backside Schwartz and Ladys Big Stormont rallied but were forced three-deep into the final turn. Undaunted, Ladys Big Stormont battled valiantly down the lane and kept a hard-closing Osprey Vision and driver Joe Lee at bay for a neck triumph. Wygant Prince held on for third money.

“This was one of the better races that my trotter has gone this year,” Schwartz acknowledged. “We got pushed three-deep in the final turn but Ladys Big Stomont dug in and hung tough in the lane to hold off a fast-closing Joe Lee (with Osprey Vision).”

In the second division Paul Minore guided his own Glenferrie Dreamer to a hard-fought victory over what appeared to be the tougher of the two splits.

Minore took advantage of the pole position and coasted to the lead in a :29.3 first quarter and caught a real break when last week's winner, Tough Get Going (Joe Faraldo), had a tough time getting going after making a break before the start, rendering him virtually out of the race.

Dave Offenberg and Fiji made a serious challenge before the half but Glenferrie Dreamer kept him at bay after a breaking Noble Warrawee (Bob Hechkoff) scattered the field. And although he rallied to be second under the wire Noble Warrawee was disqualified. Third place finisher, Permanent Joy (Bob Krivelin) was awarded second money. Fiji took home the show dough.

The NAADA series moves back to Monticello Raceway next Thursday.

(NAADA)