Yonkers, NY – Joe Faraldo prevailed with a first-up push, as did Andrew Adamczyk later in the card, to win their respective divisions of the North American Amateur Drivers Association (NAADA) trots at MGM Yonkers Raceway on Thursday night (Sept. 18).
Faraldo delivered an 11-1 upset with Kilauea in a 2:00.1 mile. After landing in third to a :28.4 first quarter, Faraldo began his bid for tempo-setter Kilimanjaro NL (driven by Joe Lee) on the march to a :59.4 half. Kilauea locked eyes with Kilimanjaro NL through the next turn and up the backside on the approach to three-quarters in 1:29.3. Kilimanjaro NL gave way to Kilauea through the final turn, and Kilauea held firmly in the stretch as J-s Hopscotch (Tony Beltrami) rallied late but settled for second, beaten a neck. Certify (Mike Polansky) sat a pocket trip for third and Velociraptor (Cote Keim), the 9-5 favorite, recovered from a break at the start to close for fourth.
Scott DiDomenico trains Kilauea, a 7-year-old gelding by Kadabra, for owners Joe Faraldo and Triple D Stables Inc. He paid $24.44 to win.
Andrew Adamczyk later found the winner’s circle with Backstreet Player to win in a 1:58.4 mile. Adamczyk sat fourth while Swiss House Onfire (Scott Keppler) cruised on the point through a :28.2 first quarter, and Adamczyk soon pulled his charge outside to race uncovered into a :58.2 half. Backstreet Player advanced on the rim moving to three-quarters in 1:28 and engaged in battle with Swiss House Onfire through the final turn. Swiss House Onfire eventually caved in the stretch battle to Backstreet Player by a neck while Creative Venture (Tony Beltrami) swooped onto the scene late and just missed scooping the top two, settling for third. Doo Wop Kid (Alan Schwartz) sat a pocket trip and took fourth.
Nick Devita trains Backstreet Player, a 6-year-old gelding by Cantab Hall, for owner David Hamm. He paid $9.24 to win.
NAADA action continues next Thursday (Sept. 25) with the third preliminary of the club’s Fall Trotting Series. First-race post time at Yonkers is 6:45 p.m. (EDT).