Two $8,000 trotting divisions in the NAADA amateur driving series, carded as non-betting affairs, went to post Thursday at Yonkers Raceway and when the dust settled Paul Minore and John Calabrese each emerged victorious in their respective divisions.
Minore scored with Keystone Blade in 1:57.2 while Calabrese was victorious with Dark Poole in 2:00.1.
In his split Minore subbed for owner-driver Joe Pennacchio and used a good journey to score a 1-1/4 length triumph with Keystone Blade.
When the gate sprung Scott Kepler hustled Judge Ken to the lead and they showed the way by the quarter in :28.1 and they still had command past the half in :58.1. Minore was the first to move and he rallied Keystone Blade to the lead as the field headed for the three quarters. Once on top Minore played catch-me-if-you-can and no one could as the Yankee Glided gelding went on to victory. Stealing (Matt Zuccarello) finished second while Winneress garnered the show dough for Tony Verruso.
The race winner is owned by Joe P Racing LLC and trained by Cory Stratton.
Dark Poole, who has raced well for John Calabrese in the past and stepped up again for him and scored a come-from-behind 2:00.4 victory in the second non-betting event.
In that contest Paul Minore gunned If I Must to the lead and they showed the way to the top of the lane before folding badly and finishing seventh. Makin Trouble K shadowed the leader throughout but when Calabrese and Dark Poole kept coming they had no defense as veteran Cantab Hall gelding rallied from fifth to notch a neck triumph over Makin Trouble K. Joe Faraldo picked up the show dough with Momms My Dad.
(NAADA)