Andrew Adamczyk motored off a pocket trip and Scott Keppler rolled down the road to win in their respective $18,714 divisions of the North American Amateur Drivers Association (NAADA) Trot at Yonkers Raceway on Thursday, Jan. 30.
Adamczyk romped in the first division with 9-5 second choice Bacardi in a 1:58.4 mile. Leaving from the pylon post, Adamczyk secured the pocket as Muscle Dan (Tony Ciuffetelli) launched to the lead moving for a :28.3 first quarter. Big Charlie Moran (Joe Lee), the 7-5 favourite, pushed forward but was caught on the rim moving to a :58.2 half. After applying mild pressure, Big Charlie Moran began a retreat while Bacardi took the outside opening to blast off the pegs and swoop to the lead heading to three-quarters in 1:28.3. He continued to open his lead with each stride through the turn and down the lane until crossing the line 7-3/4 lengths better than Fashion Forever (Dawn Anderson), who rallied off a pylon-trip for second. Muscle Dan faded to third and Awol Hanover (Steven Reisenweaver) sat a ground-saving trip for fourth.
Julius Czermann Jr. trains Bacardi, a seven-year-old gelding by Southwind Frank, for owner Joseph Loprete. Bacardi paid $5.80 to win.
Scott Keppler denied all challengers in the second division when delivering 2-1 second choice I Got The Tab to a 2:00.3 win. Once seizing the lead after a :28.4 first quarter, Keppler's trotter kept post-eight leaver Ima Standup Guy (Joe Faraldo) parked to a :58.4 half and remained in hand as the pressure persisted to three-quarters in 1:29. I Got The Tab held his ground as Ima Standup Guy stalled into the stretch to win by 1-1/4 lengths at the beam. Pocket-sitter Shoemaker Hanover (John Calabrese) raced locked but grabbed second while 3-5 favourite Love This Bar (Bruce Baker) kicked from second over for third and Ima Standup Guy settled for fourth.
Jose Godinez trains I Got The Tab, a five-year-old Cantab Hall gelding who paid $6.40 to win.
NAADA action resumes at Yonkers Raceway next Thursday, Feb. 6 for the third preliminary of six of the club’s winter series. First-race post time at Yonkers is 7 p.m.
(NAADA)