The eighth leg of the NAADA Spring Trotting Series was contested over the half-mile oval at Yonkers Raceway and when the results were finalized last years Amateur Driver of the Year, Joe Lee, emerged victorious over six others when he guided Soul Train to a wire to wire victory in a time of 1:58.2.
In that non-betting affair Lee sent his charge to the lead and took command after Paul Minore grabbed leather on Wygant Prince as the first stanza timer flashed :28.4. Once on the lead Lee, who is the clubhouse manager for the New York Yankees, kept the pedal to the metal and led his competition by the half in :59.3 with Wygant Prince in hot pursuit.
As the field headed up the backside Joe Faraldo moved Tough Get Going off the pylons and challenged Soul Train for the lead. But Lee's trotter was up to the challenge and kept Soul Train at bay as he passed the three quarters in 1:28.3. At that point young Brett Beckwith, who was sixth along the pylons, came calling with Dark Pool and although they were charging in the lane they ran out of race track and had to settle for second money. Tough Get Going hung on for third.
Soul Train won for the third time this season and raised his seasonal bankroll to over $20,000 and upped his career earnings to $418,000. The eight-year old Trainforthefuture gelding is co-owned by Lee along with Blindswitch Racing, Good Friends Stable and Santo Farina.
With his triumph, Lee vaulted to the lead in series points and with just two legs remaining he has locked up a chance to draw for an all-expense paid trip to Italy to race against his Italian counterparts in northern Italy later this year.
The series ninth leg will be contested at Monticello Raceway on Thursday, May 9.
(NAADA)