Adamczyk, Hechkoff win Yonkers NAADA

YONKERS, N.Y.— Andrew Adamczyk and Bob Hechkoff both posted front-stepping harness racing victories in the pair of $13,100 divisions of the North American Amateur Drivers Association (NAADA) Trot at Yonkers Raceway on Thursday night (Sept. 26).

Adamczyk delivered odds-on chalk Buzz (Kadabra) to the winner’s circle with a 1:59.4 mile.

Leaving from post 2, Adamczyk crossed to the lead with Pilsner Frosty (driven by Paul Minore) securing the pocket to a :29.4 first quarter. Buzz moseyed to a 1:01.3 half with only mild challenges looming then as By A Hoff Hanover (Robert Krivelin) attempted to gain ground first over moving for the backstretch. Buzz maintained a two-length lead clicking by three-quarters in 1:30.4 and strolled through the turn and down the lane to cross the line 3-1/2 lengths better than Pilsner Frosty.

Call Me Thefireman (Anthony Verruso) sat a ground-saving trip for third as did the aptly named Livingontherail (Jacob Stillwell), who took fourth.

BUZZ/ANDREW ADAMCZYK REPLAY

Adamczyk owns and trains Buzz, a 12-year-old gelding. He paid $3.40 to win.

Bob Hechkoff exerted similar authority over the second division with Dwight Hanover (Cantab Hall) while capitalizing on an early break by 4-5 favorite Secret Bro (Andrew Adamczyk) to go pillar to post in 2:00.2.

Hechkoff grabbed an easy lead while Secret Bro broke stride to a :30 first quarter and received full respect on the point. No foes dared press Dwight Hanover, leaving him to stroll through a 1:01.4 half and 1:31.1 three-quarters before skedaddling 3-3/4 lengths away from pocket-chaser Kasha’s Boy (Alan Schwartz) to collect the win. Winneress (Anthony Verruso) gave chase in third, another three lengths behind, and held off a late push from Mufasa As (Robert Krivelin), who settled for fourth.

DWIGHT HANOVER/BOB HECHKOFF REPLAY

Frank Calcagni trains and co-owns Dwight Hanover, a 4-year-old gelding, with R.B.H. Ventures Inc. He paid $10.60 to win.

NAADA action shifts to Monticello Raceway next Wednesday (Oct. 2) for the fourth leg of the club’s Fall Trotting Series. First-race post time at Monticello is 12:10 p.m. (EDT).

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

by Ray Cotolo, for the NAADA