Yonkers, NY – John Calabrese never relented and Mike Polansky rolled down the road to score wins in their respective $13,100 divisions of the North American Amateur Drivers Association (NAADA) winter series opening preliminary on Thursday night (Jan. 22) at MGM Yonkers Raceway.
Calabrese persisted with odds-on favorite Cal Miles N Shell to notch a 1:59.2 win in the first NAADA division. Starting from the pylon post, Calabrese pushed to take the lead before relinquishing control to 50-1 shot Show The Will (driven by Yogi Sheridan) following a :29 first quarter. Cal Miles N Shell tracked steadily from the pocket to a :59 half and later vacated his position to make a first-over attack on Show The Will heading for three-quarters in 1:29.2. Show The Will gave way through the turn and Cal Miles N Shell strolled to the finish to win by 2-1/2 lengths. Roger Rabbit (Scott Keppler) rallied from second-over to take second from Show The Will while I’m Out (Andrew Adamczyk) finished fourth.
Darran Cassar trains Cal Miles N Shell, a 6-year-old gelding by Trixton, for owner Calabrese Farms LLC. He paid $3.90 to win.
Mike Polansky later romped going pillar to post with 6-1 choice Certify in a 2:01.1 mile. Polansky powered to the fore heading to a :29.4 first quarter with Kilamanjaro NL (Joe Lee) securing the pocket. Polansky managed to steal a breather to a 1:01.2 half and accelerated for the backstretch with few challengers threatening. After clocking three-quarters in 1:30.4, Certify pulled away and recorded a four-length win over Kilimanjaro NL while Velociraptor (Bob Krivelin), the even-money favorite, gave chase to finish third and Mr Contestant (Yogi Sheridan) settled for fourth.
Michael Fiumenero owns and trains Certify, a 10-year-old gelding by Credit Winner. He paid $15.44 to win.
NAADA action resumes next Thursday (Jan. 29) with the second preliminary of the club’s winter series. The winter series will consist of six preliminaries that culminate into a final at Yonkers Raceway on Thursday, March 5.
First-race post time at Yonkers Raceway is 6:45 p.m. (EST).