Stratton, Minore take NAADA Trots

YONKERS, N.Y.— Victoria Stratton landed in the harness racing winner’s circle following a pylon disqualification and Paul Minore motored down the road out of post 8 to win in their respective $13,100 divisions of the North American Amateur Drivers Association (NAADA) Trots at Yonkers Raceway on Thursday night (Feb. 13).

Stratton persisted through a fierce first-over bid in the back half with Draco S (Offshore Dream) and ascended to the first spot in the first NAADA division, timed in 2:01.4. Away third to a :28.4 first quarter, Stratton followed the tow of Muscle Dan (driven by Tony Ciuffetelli) and pocket-sitter Limerence (Dawn Anderson) until after a :59.1 half, where Limerence began to falter. Stratton lifted Draco S off the pegs and took aim on Muscle Dan up the backstretch, and the two hooked in head-to-head battle at three-quarters in 1:29.4 and all through the final turn. The pair remained nostril to nostril in the stretch but Draco S stayed game and slid a scant nose in front by the beam to grab the win following the disqualification of Itsoneofthose (Andrew Adamczyk), who scooped inside three pylons off the final turn. Muscle Dan settled for second with Awol Hanover (Steven Reisenweaver) taking third and Dwight Hanover (Bob Hechkoff) finishing fourth.

DRACO S REPLAY

Cory Stratton trains Draco S, a 10-year-old gelding by Offshore Dream, for owner Howard Jacobs. He paid $3.80 to win.

Paul Minore landed Ima Standup Guy (Archangel) on the point from the outermost post and held firm to the line to score a 2:01.1 victory in the other NAADA division.

Following All Rise (Tony Beltrami) on the rim through a :28.3 first quarter, Ima Standup Guy planted onto the lead moving for the second turn and kept on the muscle to a :59.2 half. Never Mind N (Bob Hechkoff) mounted a mild first-over bid on the second circuit, but Ima Standup Guy continued on an otherwise uncontested two-length lead. Clocking three-quarters in 1:29.2, Ima Standup Guy strolled for home to register a 1-1/4-length win over pocket-sitter All Rise while Never Mind N took third, another three lengths behind, and 9-5 favorite Lionhead (Yogi Sheridan) finished fourth off a second-over trip.

IMA STANDUP GUY REPLAY

Scott Di Domenico trains Ima Standup Guy, a 6-year-old gelding by Archangel, for owners Joe Faraldo and Triple D Stables Inc. He paid $11.40 to win.

NAADA action continues at Yonkers Raceway next Thursday (Feb. 20) with the fifth preliminary of the club’s winter series. First-race post time at Yonkers is 7 p.m. (EST).

For complete race results, click here: US Trotting results.

by Ray Cotolo, for the NAADA