James Slendorn and Joe Faraldo sent and sailed down the road with their charges to take their respective $10,000 divisions for the North American Amateur Drivers Association (NAADA) Fall Trotting Series final preliminary on Thursday night (Oct. 26) at Yonkers Raceway.
In the non-wagering division, Slendorn swooped to the lead from post three with Sheena Soldier and strolled through the remainder. He grabbed command to a :30 first quarter, coasted to a 1:00.3 half and rolled through three-quarters in 1:30 to stride in a 1-3/4-length winner in 1:59.3. Turbochargedpete (Joe Faraldo) fired first over to the final turn and secured second with Cyclone Maximus (Jacob Stillwell) giving chase off a pocket trip in third and Winneress (Anthony Verruso) finishing fourth.
Chris Height conditions Sheena Soldier, a six-year-old gelding by Father Patrick, for owner James Slendorn.
Faraldo pulled yet another upset with By A Hoff Hanover in the lone pari-mutuel dash, landing a 10-1 blow in 2:00.3.
Starting from the pylon post, By A Hoff Hanover slid to the lead and faced no pressure with Call Me Thefireman (Anthony Verruso) breaking at the start and Stravinsky (Tony Beltrami) galloping up the backside. By A Hoff Hanover clicked a :29.2 first quarter and slowed proceedings to a 1:00.3 half while Fair Glider (Robert Ciavardini) mounted a mild first-over bid out of third. Faraldo hit the pedal up the backstretch and peeled three lengths clear of his rivals to three-quarters in 1:29.3, which proved a comfortable cushion as By A Hoff Hanover passed the beam a 1-3/4-length winner. Judge Ken (Jacob Stillwell) sat a pocket trip to take second with 6-5 favourite Shoemaker Hanover (John Calabrese) left in third and Stravinsky in fourth.
Mark Ford trains By A Hoff Hanover, a five-year-old gelding by Donato Hanover, for owners George and Rose Bonomo. He paid $23 to win.
A consolation for the NAADA Fall Trotting Series is slated to go at Monticello Raceway next Wednesday, Nov. 1. The final for the Fall Trotting Series will go to gate at Yonkers Raceway on Thursday, Nov. 9.
(NAADA)