Calabrese, Lee Claim Yonkers NAADA Splits
John Calabrese and Joe Lee plugged down the road to each score pillar-to-post wins in their respective $17,945 divisions for the North American Amateur Drivers Association (NAADA) Trots at Yonkers Raceway on Thursday, June 20.
In the first division, John Calabrese coasted on the lead with Allindotime and lasted to the line of a 1:58.4 mile.
Leaving from post three, Allindotime crossed to clear Winneress (driven by Anthony Verruso) moving to a :28.4 first quarter and faced little pressure through middle fractions of :59.2 and 1:29.2. Winneress continued content from the pocket spot all through the mile until coming to the top of the stretch, where Verruso tried to convert his ride to a win.
Allindotime endured the late charge from Winneress all through the stretch and kept that rival at bay to the beam by about a nose while Dark Pool (Tony Beltrami) closed for third, beaten 2-1/4 lengths, and Look In My Eyes (Tony Ciuffetelli) took fourth.
Bill MacKenzie trains Allindotime, a nine-year-old gelding by Andover Hall, for owner Alma Iafelice. He paid $3.90 to win.
Once Joe Lee got Beacon Beach to the lead in the second NAADA division, no challengers came calling as he strode to a comfortable 2:00 win.
Beacon Beach powered past Lionhead (Joe Faraldo) to take the lead after a :30.2 quarter and saw no other horses the rest of the way. With no foes in sight, Beacon Beach continued cutting an easy clip of 1:00.3 and 1:29.4 while steadily widening his lead. Beacon Beach spun for home and registered a three-length win over Lionhead, who held second from Call Me Thefireman (Anthony Verruso) giving chase in third. Shoemaker Hanover (John Calabrese) made a mild first-over move for fourth.
Buzzy Sholty trains and co-owns Beacon Beach (pictured above), a four-year-old gelding by Resolve, with the El Dorado Stables. He paid $4.30 to win.
NAADA action shifts to Monticello Raceway for the fourth leg of the Summer Series, which will take place on Wednesday (June 26). First-race post time at Monticello is 12:10 p.m. (EDT).
(NAADA)