Yonkers, NY – Scott Keppler led every step to land a 12-1 upset while Tony Beltrami fired down the road to deliver the 6-5 favorite to victory in their respective divisions of the North American Amateur Drivers Association (NAADA) trots at MGM Yonkers Raceway on Thursday night (May 7).
Keppler took his rivals pillar to post in the first NAADA division with All Too Well in a 2:00.2 mile. Once clearing to the lead out of post 6, Keppler clocked a :28.4 first quarter and soon endured pressure from parked Show The Will (driven by Joe Faraldo) as he slowed proceedings to a :59 half. Show The Will stalled on the rim moving up the backside while All Too Well strode for three-quarters in 1:28.4, locking Kilimanjaro NL (Joe Lee) in the pocket. As Show The Will lost ground around the final turn, Kilimanjaro NL had clearance to lay a late attack on All Too Well but proved a neck short at the beam while Papa Joe Lozito (Robert Ciavardini) gave chase in third and Nasa (Paul Minore) saved ground for fourth.
Ricky Bucci trains All Too Well, a 5-year-old gelding by Muscle Hill, for owner Flatland Racing. He paid $26.04 to win.
Tony Beltrami later asserted authority with favorite Windsong Pioneer to score handily in a 1:59.1 mile. Beltrami grabbed command past a :28.2 first quarter from longshot Certify (Mike Polansky) and settled into rhythm on the way to a :59.1 half. Though a first-over challenge soon came from Baby Tao (Scott Keppler) on the march to three-quarters in 1:28.4, Windsong Pioneer continued unfazed into the last turn and widened his lead in the stretch to cross the line 4-1/4 lengths better than Mamy Wata (Paul Minore), who kicked from second-over for second. Baby Tao settled for third and Southside Bar (Yogi Sheridan) saved ground for fourth.
Paul Stafford trains Windsong Pioneer, a 10-year-old gelding by E L Titan, for owner Thomas Ceraso Jr. He paid $4.50 to win.
NAADA action resumes next Wednesday (May 13) at Monticello Raceway. First-race post time at Monticello is 12:10 p.m. (EDT).