Two very competitive fields of trotters went to post tonight at Yonkers Raceway and when the judges posted the official signs Joe Lee and Tony Beltrami each walked away with trophies after winning their respective $10,000 splits.
Lee was victorious with Swancredit in 2:00 while Beltrami won with Dark Pool in 1:58.2.
In his division, Lee was content to take a tuck when the starter said go and was third at the quarter in :30.4 as Matt Zuccarello showed the way with Stealing. As the field headed to the halfway point Scott Keppler found himself on the limb with Judge Ken and they moved alongside Stealing as the half mile timer flashed :59.4.
The leaders were still one-two as they trotted by the third stanza in 1:29.1. But when they headed for home Stealing braced for a late rally from Swancredit and the two trotters wee side by side when the tripped the timer. But upon viewing the photo the judges posted Swancredit the winner, a head better than Stealing. Grafenberg, in rein to Joe Faraldo, finished third two lengths behind the first two finishers.
Swancredit is owned by Joe Bongiorno and trained by his sister, Jennifer.
In the other split Joe Lee sent Makin Trouble N to the lead from the seven-hole and then yielded command to Dark Pool and driver Tony Beltrami before the halfway point When the field headed up the backside for the three quarters Dark Pool opened a two length lead and was the one to beat when the field headed for home. When he crossed the finish line Dark Pool was a 2-1/4 length winner over Trump This, who was driven by Scott Keppler All Night Credit garnered the show dough for Matt Zuccarello.
Dark Pool is owned by Barry Franklin and trained by Paul Fusco.
(NAADA)