For the second time this season Joe Faraldo had a driving double. It came Thursday at Yonkers Raceway when he guided both Con Air Hall and Our White Knight to victory in their respective $10,000 splits of the NAADA Trotting Series.
In the first event the field was reduced to four after two late scratches so Faraldo immediately sent his charge, Con Air Hall, to the lead from the four hole. And once in command they trotted by the quarter in :29.2 and they showed the way by the half in :59.4. They had a solid lead on Dark Pool (John Calabrese) when they trotted by the three-quarters in 1:28.4 and from there they cruised to a 2-1/4 length victory in 1:59. Dark Pool finished second and Bob Krivelin garnered the show dough with Wings Up.
The winner is owned by Bottom Line Racing and Triple D Stables and trained by Scott Di Domenico.
In the second split Faraldo fell in the two-hole with Our White Knight as Alan Schwartz showed the way with Ladys Big Stormont and they kept Stormy Dangles (Peter Kleinhans) on the limb as they trotted by the quarter in :29. From there Faraldo kept his trotter tight on Schwartz's back as the latter led the competition by the half in :58.2.
Stormy Dangles was still on the limb racing head-to-head with Ladys Big Stormont past the three quarters in 1:29.1. But at that point Kleinhans trotter began to fade and when they headed for home Faraldo rallied Our White Knight to the lead and they opened daylight on the field and cruised home an easy 3-1/2 winner in 1:59.1. Skyway Tinacious rallied from far back to finish second for John Calabrese and Ladys Big Stormont and Alan Schwartz garnered the show dough.
Our White Knight, a six-year-old Crazed gelding, is owned by L & L Stables and trained by Scott Di Demenico.
(NAADA)