Yonkers, NY – Yonkers Raceway hosted three divisions of the second preliminary for the North American Amateur Drivers Association (NAADA) Trot on Thursday night (March 21) that saw Joe Faraldo, Matt Zuccarello and Anthony Verruso claim victory in their respective divisions.

Joe Faraldo (#4) winning the first NAADA division with B Medithree. Luna De La Rosa photo.

Joe Faraldo went pillar to post with 1-5 favorite B Medithree in the first division of the NAADA Trot. Faraldo fired his charge for the front from post four and waded off an early push from Kasha’s Boy (driven by Alan Schwartz) to a :28.3 first quarter. B Medithree coasted on the point through middle splits of :59 and 1:29.3 as Just A Passenger (Andrew Adamczyk) made gains on the rim and took over the pocket from a faltering Kasha’s Boy. B Medithree remained resolute on the lead spinning for home to keep a nose in front of fast-closing Bacardi (Joe Lee) at the end of a 2:01.4 mile. Just A Passenger settled for third and Winneress (Anthony Verruso) grabbed fourth.

Scott Di Domenico trains B Medithree, a 7-year-old gelding by B Strike Three, for owner Ben Robards. He paid $2.40 to win.

Matt Zuccarello winning the second NAADA division with Skyway Professor. Luna De La Rosa photo.

Matt Zuccarello forged forward from an uncovered push to grab victory in the second NAADA Trot behind Skyway Professor in 2:02. Zuccarello landed in third out of post six to chase pylon-starter and 6-5 favorite Raceace (Alan Schwartz) as he hustled for the front to a :29.1 first quarter.

Staying put through a 1:00.3 half, Zuccarello launched Skyway Professor into action up the backside and loomed nearer to Raceace through three-quarters in 1:30.2. Skyway Professor kept plugging into the lane and downed Raceace while withstanding a late charge from Making Sparks (Joe Lee) to win by a half length at the beam. Raceace faded to third and Explosive Ridge (Andrew Adamczyk) rallied from last for fourth.

Dennis Laterza trains Skyway Professor, a 5-year-old gelding by Swan For All, for owners Latz A Luck Stable, Winners Circle Racing LLC and John Campagnuolo. Off the third longest shot on the board, he paid $28.60 to win.

Anthony Verruso winning the third NAADA division with Call Me Thefireman. Luna De La Rosa photo.

Anthony Verruso then took his peers down the road with a 2:02.4 effort by Call Me Thefireman. Grabbing the lead out of post five, Call Me Thefireman led Psalmsfortysixfive (John Calabrese) to a :30.2 first quarter and stole a steep breather to a 1:02.3 half.

As the tempo slowed, 2-1 favorite Skrill (Scott Keppler) launched out of sixth onto the rim and marched towards the leader on the second circuit. Skrill stalled up the backside and soon began a retreat, leaving Call Me Thefireman on a comfortable lead to three-quarters in 1:32. Psalmsfortysixfive launched a pocket blitz spinning for home but Call Me Thefireman held firm on the lead to win by a half length. Muscle Dan (Tony Ciuffetelli) finished third and Livingontherail (Jacob Stillwell) took fourth.

Symon Spicer trains Call Me Thefireman, an 8-year-old gelding by Wishing Stone, for owner Anthony Verruso. He paid $10 to win.

NAADA action resumes next Thursday (March 28) at Yonkers Raceway with the third preliminary for the Spring Trotting Series. First-race post time at Yonkers is 7 p.m. (EDT).