by John Manzi, for the NAADA

Yonkers, NY — Steve “You’re Never Too” Oldford and Peter “Enough Talk” Kleinhans each won their respective splits in the NAADA Trots on Friday (Nov. 3) at Yonkers Raceway. Oldford scored a come-from-behind triumph with Starsaboverallerage in 2:00.1 while Kleinhans won with Toss Cartwright in an exciting three-horse photo in a time of 2:00.4.

Both races were non-wagering affairs and went to post prior to the first race on the betting card.

In his division Oldford heeded trainer Allen Sisco’s instructions and kept Starsaboverallerage covered as long as possible.

“Going to the three-quarters I was tight on Alan Schwartz’s helmet and followed him and (his trotter) Linda Marie around the final turn and when I popped the (ear) plugs on Starsaboverallerage he exploded,” Oldford explained. “My horse moved forward so quickly that I had to butt shuffle my sulky to clear room and when we had an open road he trotted around Monica Banca (with Brandos Muscle Man) and we went on to an easy length victory.”

Third place went to Wygant Prince, driven by Paul Minore.

It was Oldford’s first drive in the NAADA events this year although he has been a steady competitor in the Billings Series which, by the way, will be on display Saturday night at Yonkers Raceway.

And after winning that organization’s Travel Series Final earlier this season Oldford has already qualified for the $25,000 Billings Series Gold Cup final which will also be at Yonkers Raceway in late November.

For Oldford, a former National Amateur Driver of the Year, the victory was his 13th this season and the 129th of his amateur driving career.

To determine a winner in the second NAADA division wasn’t nearly as easy as it was in the first split when three trotters, and their determined drivers, made an all-out charge to the finish line just heads apart. When the photo finish camera snapped it was determined that Peter “Enough Talk” Kleinhans and Toss Cartwright out-footed their competition to win by a head. Second place, right there, was Fox Valley Steffen and driver “Lady Jennifer” Lappe while the show dough was garnered by the pacesetter Tough Get Going, driven by “Smokin’ Joe” Faraldo.

When the gate sprung Faraldo and Tough Get Going took command and after steady early fractions Tough Get Going was still on the lead as the field rounded the final turn and headed for pay-dirt. They were overtaken momentarily by Fox Valley Steffen, but in the deep stretch Kleinhans and his charge trotted to the front and they were the first to the wire.

It was the fourth seasonal triumph for Kleinhans and the 55th of his career.