Tony Beltrami powered home with Red Overbach and Andrew Adamczyk capitalized off a pocket ride with Call Me Thefireman to win their respective $10,000 divisions of the second preliminary for the North American Amateur Drivers Association (NAADA) Fall Series on Thursday night (Aug. 31) at Yonkers Raceway.
In the first division, Tony Beltrami landed last of the quintet with 9-5 second choice Red Overbach as Classy Guy (driven by Yogi Sheridan) protected position from the pylons to grab the lead. Classy Guy cut a :28.4 first quarter and snagged a stark breather to the half in 1:01.1, where Beltrami got underway along the rim with Red Overbach.
Beltrami worked to keep Red Overbach straight up the backside as Sheridan called upon Classy Guy for more to three-quarters in 1:30.4. But once Red Overbach hit the homestretch, he motored by and clear to a length victory as Turbochargedpete (Joe Faraldo) vacated pocket and fired home for second. Classy Guy settled for third and What A Pittstop (Alan Schwartz) finished fourth.
Paul Fusco trains Red Overbach, a four-year-old gelding by Royalty For Life, for owners J M F Racing LLC and Peter Fusco Racing LLC. He paid $5.90 to win.
After getting away last from the outermost post in the first division, Tony Beltrami hustled from the outermost post in the other division to take control with All Rise to a :28.1 first quarter. Andrew Adamczyk secured the pocket with Call Me Thefireman and stayed put through middle fractions of :59.3 and 1:29 while Fun Time Charlie (Scott Keppler) mounted a floundering challenge first over. Call Me Thefireman swelled off the pocket ride and launched for home to down All Rise while holding off a late charge from Sheena Soldier (James Slendorn) to win by a neck in 1:59.4. All Rise held third and 9-5 favourite Drazzmatazz (Yogi Sheridan) recovered from a break at the start to take fourth.
Anthony Verruso owns Call Me Thefireman, a seven-year-old gelding by Wishing Stone. Adamczyk also trains the $5.80 winner.
The NAADA Fall Series continues with a total of 10 preliminaries before the final on Thursday, Nov. 9 at Yonkers Raceway. Yonkers is slated to host the next round of the Fall Series next Thursday (Sept. 7) with first-race post time at 7 p.m. (EDT).
(NAADA)