Yonkers, NY — Rey Franco and Yogi Sheridan capitalized off pocket trips to win their respective divisions of the North American Amateur Drivers Association (NAADA) trots at MGM Yonkers Raceway on Thursday night (Oct. 8).
Franco popped for a 9-1 upset in the $13,400 division with PC Free Wheeling in a 1:59.3 mile. After 1-9 favorite Call Option (driven by Tony Beltrami) broke stride at the start, Certify (Mike Polansky) pushed for the top with Franco securing a seat behind the leader heading for a :28.2 first quarter. Certify strolled uncontested on the point towards a 1:00.1 half and maintained a comfortable lead to three-quarters in 1:30.1, but all the while Franco readied for an attack rounding for home. PC Free Wheeling kicked out and to the lead in the lane to cross the beam a length better than Certify with My Secret Ability (Joe Lee) giving chase in third and Bacardi (Yogi Sheridan) closing for fourth.
Cory Stratton trains PC Free Wheeling for owner Caldwell Mamie Racing LLC. The 8-year-old mare by Wheeling N Dealin-Heroine Seelster paid $21.68 to win.
Yogi Sheridan took the $13,100 division to open the Thursday card with a narrow win by All Too Well in a 1:59 mile. Sheridan perched behind leader and odds-on chalk Meetmeatthebar (Andrew Adamczyk) heading for a :28.3 first quarter and followed steadily through middle splits of :59.4 and 1:29.1. All Too Well found clearance to angle outside spinning for home and overhauled Meetmeatthebar by a neck at the line while Ima Standup Guy (Joe Faraldo) finished a level third from a first-over grind. Mamy Wata (Paul Minore) took fourth from a second-over trip.
Ricky Bucci trains All Too Well for owner Flatland Racing. The 5-year-old gelding by Muscle Hill-Order By Wish paid $12.42 to win.
NAADA action resumes Wednesday, Oct. 14, with the next preliminary of the club’s fall series at Monticello Raceway. First-race post time is 12:10 p.m. (EDT).