After a NAADA amateur event at Monticello this afternoon members of the Billings Series gathered gathered at Yonkers Raceway tonight to compete in two trotting events before the first race on the betting card and oddly each contest was won in wire-to-wire fashion.
In the first $6,000 split “Mighty Matt” Zuccarello took advantage of the rail position and sent Broadway Bruiser to the front when the wings of the mobile gate folded and the veteran trotter made every pole a winning on en route to a 2:02.1 victory over the wet racetrack.
“Coach Paul” Minore used the same tactics in his $6000 event when he sent his veteran trotter, Wygant Prince, to the lead from the two-hole and cruised to an easy two-length triumph in a 2:00 clocking.
Zuccarello, who doubles as the publicist for the GSY Amateur Drivers Series, enjoys every chance he gets to sit behind a spirited steed under battle conditions, something he's been doing since 2011.
Tonight he took no prisoners and rebuffed any and all challengers to score a two-length triumph over
Noble Warrawee, and driver,“Iron Mike” Polansky finished second and last year's National Amateur Driver of the Year, “Joltin' Joe” Pennacchio, garnered the show dough with Cheeky Little Miss.
Broadway Bruiser, four-year old Muscle Mass gelding, is owned by Harmon Racing, Winners Circle Racing and John Campagnuolo and trained by Rob Harmon.
In his split, Minore sent Wygant Prince to the front and once there it was 'Katey-bar-the-door' as the veteran trotter cruised virtually unchallenged to notch his 41st career victory and raise his career earnings to over $466,000.
Tough Get Going, in rein to “Smokin' Joe” Faraldo stalked the leader throughout but couldn't overtake him and went home with the place money. And although Finnick Odair rallied strongly at the three quarters he then flattened out and finished third for Melissa “the Contessa” Arbia..
Wygant Prince is also owned by Minore and trained by Taylor Gower.
(CKG Billings Series)