Paul Minore persevered through a wide trip and Bruce Baker powered first over to take their respective $18,986 divisions of the North American Amateur Drivers Association (NAADA) Trots at Yonkers Raceway on Thursday, Feb. 6.

Minore found cover while parked the mile and vaulted forward to claim the first NAADA division with Ima Standup Guy in a 2:01 mile. Stacked behind first-up Never Mind N (driven by Bob Hechkoff) as he pressured tempo-setter Awol Hanover (Steven Reisenweaver), Minore stayed steady through early fractions of :29 and :59.2 while readying a blitz moving for the backstretch the final time. Minore charged Ima Standup Guy three wide and by the battle-weary duo to seize the lead after three-quarters in 1:30 and gain a two-length jump on his competition spinning for home. The margin proved a sufficient cushion and Ima Standup Guy held to cross the line first ahead of fast-closing even-money favourite Lionhead (Yogi Sheridan) by three-quarters of a length. Peters Royalty (Tony Beltrami) closed from last for third, another five lengths behind, and Never Mind N settled for fourth.

Scott Di Domenico trains Ima Standup Guy, a six-year-old gelding by Archangel, for owners Joe Faraldo and Triple D Stables Inc. He paid $6.10 to win.

Bruce Baker waited to make his move until the final circuit with 4-5 favourite Love This Bar and successfully snatched the second NAADA Trot in a identical time of time of 2:01. Baker nestled his charge to race third while All Rise (Tony Beltrami) blasted out of post eight to lead the field by a :28.4 first quarter. All Rise then grabbed a breather to a 1:00.1 half and cruised up the backstretch, where Baker decided to lay his assault. Love This Bar lunged after All Rise coming to three-quarters in 1:30.1 and continued to pressure the leader all through the final turn. All Rise caved to the challenge in the lane and Love This Bar grabbed the victory by three parts of a length at the beam. Hobbs (Victoria Stratton) rallied for third while pocket-sitter Muscle Dan (Tony Ciuffetelli) took fourth.

Robert Ginsburg Jr. trains Love This Bar, a seven-year-old gelding by Bar Hopping, for owner James Craparotta. He paid $3.80 to win.

NAADA action resumes at Yonkers Raceway next Thursday (Feb. 13) with the fourth leg of the club’s winter series. First-race post time at Yonkers is 7 p.m. (EST).

(NAADA)