Yonkers, NY — On Thursday evening (Oct. 3), two divisions of trotters in North American Amateur Drivers Series went to post at Yonkers Raceway, with Bob Hechkoff and Tony Ciuffetelli Jr. emerging victorious in their respective non-wagering divisions.

Hechkoff guided Five Towns to a 2:01.3 triumph, while Ciuffetelli scored with Someway Same Hall in 1:59.3. Both races were contested before the wagering card got underway over a rain-slicked oval.

In his division, Hechkoff sent Five Towns to the front. Due to the short five-horse field, they got away with a :30.1 first quarter with no challenges. But when they headed for the halfway point, Miguel Alejo-Hernandez was out and moving with Tropical Trice. The two raced side-by-side until the three-quarters, when Hechkoff’s trotter rebuffed the challenge and then braced for Paul Minore and his veteran Wygant Prince. Five Towns remained strong and rambled to a 1-1/4 length triumph over Minore’s trotter. Tropical Trice faded and finished third.

Five Towns is trained by Kyle Spagnola for RBH Ventures and Spagnola Racing.

The second NAADA split saw Tony Ciuffetell Jr. sit the pocket until the head of the stretch and then hustle Someway Same Hall to a one-length triumph in 1:59.3.

After Joe Lee zipped Soul Train to the lead when the gate sprung, Ciuffetelli was content to sit in the two-hole and follow the leader. Fast early fractions over the rain-soaked race course took a toll on the leader, and when Ciuffetelli decided to challenge late in the mile, Someway Same Hall had no trouble reeling Soul Train and rallying to victory. Meanwhile, in deep stretch, Dave Offenberg hustled Fiji up for second money while Soul Train faded and finished third.

Someway Same Hall is owned by his driver and trained by Joe Ciuffetelli.

The NAADA Trotting Series continues next Thursday (Oct. 10) at Monticello Raceway.