Two short fields went to post in the NAADA Trots at Yonkers Raceway on Thursday before the betting card got underway and when the dust settled “Hurricane Hannah” Miller and “Smokin’ Joe” Faraldo each emerged victorious in their respective splits.
Miller won her division with Pine Tab in 2:03.2 while Faraldo scored with Tough Get Going in 2:01.2.
Despite his outstanding and time-consuming efforts in producing all aspects of the International Trot slated for Saturday, Faraldo found time to sit behind a spirited steed in his own NAADA Trotting Series.
“Actually this race was scheduled for Wednesday but it was held over until tonight (Thursday) which was the night of the boat ride for our International Trot guests which caused a minor dilemma for me,” Faraldo said after his victory. “I really wanted to go on the boat ride but I knew I had a good shot to win the NAADA race tonight.”
According to Faraldo, he drove Tough Get Going at Monticello Raceway last week and a mishap behind the starting gate caused him to finish back.
“I knew he (Tough Get Going) had a great chance to win tonight and I wanted to be in the driver’s seat even though I had to pass on the International Trot boat ride around Manhattan Isle with all my friends,” Faraldo said. “You know, I don’t have that many live mounts when I drive and I didn’t want to pass up this one.”
And Faraldo ,the president of NAADA, assumption was correct and he gunned his charge to the front and took no prisoners while making every pole a winning one. Second place went to Fox Valley Steffen driven by Jennifer Lappe. Billings' president Tony Verruso finished third with Sam’s Honeybee.
Tough Get Going is a four-year-old Kadabra gelding owned by Delegance Stable, Richard Banca and Carmine Iannacone and trained by Banca.
The other division saw Hannah Miller send Pine Tab to the lead and with the short field they didn’t encounter any challenges as the two-time National Amateur Driver of the Year got her trotter to the halfway point in a soft 1:03.2. Pine Tab still needed a :59.4 second half to hold off Bobby Krivelin’s Permanent Joy for a head victory. Third place went to SJ Better Days in rein to Bob Hechkoff.
It was Ms Miller’s 22nd winning drive thus far this year and her 95th in just 322 career trips to post.
Pine Tab is an eight-year-old Cantab Hall gelding owed by the JL Benson Stable and trained by Nick Surick
Both NAADA races were non-wagering events.
(NAADA)