Yonkers, NY – Tony Beltrami never relinquished control and dominated the competition to deliver 6-5 favorite Windsong Pioneer to a 1:58.4 victory in the $20,000 North American Amateur Drivers Association (NAADA) Spring Series final on Thursday night (May 28) at MGM Yonkers Raceway.
Leaving from post 5, Beltrami hustled Windsong Pioneer to the front and faced pressure from post-8 starter The Last Chapter (driven by Rey Franco) marching to a :28.3 first quarter. Beltrami parked The Last Chapter while also grabbing a breather to a :58.3 half and began separating from the field heading for three-quarters in 1:28.2.
The Last Chapter retreated while Windsong Pioneer widened his lead to roll in an easy winner by 5-1/4 lengths. Southside Bar (Yogi Sheridan) rallied from a ground-saving trip for second while pocket-chaser Big Charlie Moran (John Calabrese) settled for third and Psalmsfortysixfive (Scott Keppler) took fourth.
Paul Stafford trains Windsong Pioneer, a 10-year-old gelding by E L Titan, for owner Thomas Ceraso Jr. He paid $4.30 to win.
NAADA action will return with the start of the club’s Summer Series on Wednesday, June 10, at Monticello Raceway. First-race post time at Monticello is 12:10 p.m. (EDT).