Yonkers, NY – Tony Ciuffetelli pounced off a perfect trip while John Calabrese powered down the road to each deliver with favorites in the pair of North American Amateur Drivers Association (NAADA) trots at MGM Yonkers Raceway on Thursday night (Feb. 12).
Ciuffetelli landed 2-1 chalk Yucatan Party Man in the winner’s circle off a pocket ride in a 2:02.3 mile. Settling behind leader Swiss House Onfire (driven by Yogi Sheridan) heading to a :29 first quarter, Ciuffetelli’s perch turned golden when Ima Standup Guy (John Calabrese) angled off the pegs to push up the rim towards the leader.
Ima Standup Guy and Swiss House Onfire battled through a 1:00.2 half and three-quarters in 1:30.4 all while Yucatan Party Man followed steadily behind. Swiss House Onfire rebuffed Ima Standup Guy through the final turn but drifted away from the pylons spinning for home, leaving Yucatan Party Man a seam. Ciuffetelli rallied through the gap at the inside to grab victory by 1-1/2 lengths over Bar Keep De Vie (Dawn Anderson), who rallied from a second-over trip for second. Swiss House Onfire settled for third and Love This Bar (Joe Lee) saved ground for fourth.
Tony Ciuffetelli trains Yucatan Party Man, an 8-year-old gelding by Credit Winner, for owners Joseph and Albert Ciuffetelli. He paid $6.06 to win.
John Calabrese later turned away all foes with a 2:01.1 pillar-to-post performance by odds-on favorite I’m Out. Calabrese zipped from the pylon post to the fore heading to a :29.1 first quarter while Muscle Dan (Tony Ciuffetelli) tried for a seat from an outside draw but raced stuck on the rim.
Muscle Dan advanced uncovered after I’m Out to a 1:00.3 half but soon faltered, stymying the backfield while I’m Out coasted along to three-quarters in 1:30.4. I’m Out then pulled clear of the competition in the lane to register a 3-1/4-length victory with Tarpon Springs S (Tony Beltrami) rallying from a ground-saving trip for second. Youmeandwhiskey (Geovany Hernandez) gave chase from the pocket for third and Hunters Gal (Joe Lee) kicked from near last for fourth.
Scott DiDomenico trains I’m Out, a 5-year-old gelding by Father Patrick, for owners Triple D Stables Inc. and Joe Faraldo. He paid $2.70 to win.
NAADA action resumes next Thursday (Feb. 19) at Yonkers Raceway with the fifth of six preliminaries for the club’s winter trotting series. First-race post time at Yonkers is 6:45 p.m. (EST).