Krivelin captures NAADA summer opener

YONKERS, N.Y.— Harness racing amateur Robert Krivelin cleared control from the pylons with 8-5 favorite Lionhead (Uncle Peter) and led his peers around the course to score a 2:00.2 victory in the $10,000 opening leg of the North American Amateur Drivers Association (NAADA) Summer Series on Thursday night (June 1) at Yonkers Raceway.

Lionhead lunged forward to lead Grafenberg (driven by Joe Faraldo) as the field – scratched to five – settled into post-position order towards a :29.3 first quarter. No one bit to move and challenge the leader to a 1:00.1 half, so Lionhead continued on the helm and readied for an attack up the backside.

Judge Ken (Jacob Stillwell) angled off the pegs from third and had Classy Guy (Matt Zuccarello) following his cover to three-quarters in 1:30.1. Lionhead maintained a length lead coming for home and carried his speed through the stretch to keep 1-1/2 lengths in front of Judge Ken at the finish. Crazy About Pat (Tony Beltrami) rallied off a pylon trip for third with Grafenberg fading to fourth and Classy Guy rounding the field.

Terry Morgan trains and owns Lionhead, a 7-year-old gelding who paid $5.40 to win.

LIONHEAD REPLAY

NAADA Summer Series action continues next Thursday (June 8) at Yonkers Raceway and will run once a week through the series’ conclusion on Saturday, Aug. 10 at Yonkers Raceway. Monticello Raceway is slated to host a preliminary on select Wednesdays (June 21, July 5, July 12 and July 19) through the series as well as the Summer Series consolation on Wednesday, Aug. 9.

For complete race results, click here.

by Ray Cotolo, for NAADA