Faraldo, Hechkoff both upset in NAADA Trots

YONKERS, N.Y.— Joe Faraldo and Bob Hechkoff both landed wins at long odds in their respective $13,100 harness racing divisions of the North American Amateur Drivers Association (NAADA) Trots at Yonkers Raceway on Thursday night (Oct. 30).

Faraldo romped in the opening division with Ima Standup Guy by staying straight and strong to a 1:59.1 win.

Leaving from post 3, Ima Standup Guy pushed forward and took a de facto lead when Double Dealing (driven by Robert Ciavardini) broke stride and left the course to a :29 first quarter. Double Dealing failed to lose ground while on a gallop, so Faraldo kept Ima Standup Guy steady and on a sizeable advantage with Awol Hanover (Steven Reisenweaver) his closest pursuer. Ima Standup Guy cruised through a :58 half and 1:28 three-quarters and strode comfortably to victory by eight lengths.

Awol Hanover took second with Psalmsfortysixfive (Scott Keppler) rallying off a break in stride for third. Mamy Wata (Paul Minore) also recovered from a break in stride for fourth.

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 $29.40 to win.

Bob Hechkoff later pounced off a pocket trip for a 1:57.4 victory at odds of 12-1 with Eyes Of Justice in the second NAADA Trot division. Hechkoff took a seat behind 7-5 favorite The Last Chapter (Scott Keppler) as he endured first-over pressure from Big Charlie Moran (Mario D’Abruzzo) to a :28.4 first quarter and through a :58.3 half. Big Charlie Moran eventually relented from the wide trip and retreated up the backstretch while The Last Chapter coasted to three-quarters in 1:27.4. Eyes Of Justice meanwhile had ample room to angle outside through the last turn and laid his attack in the lane, successfully downing The Last Chapter by three-quarter lengths at the line. I’m Out (Joe Faraldo) finished third, another four lengths behind, and Muskingum (Yogi Sheridan) finished four lengths farther back in fourth.

EYES OF JUSTICE REPLAY

Frank Calcagni trains Eyes Of Justice, a 7-year-old gelding by Justice Hall, for owner R.B.H. Ventures Inc. He paid $26.96 to win.

NAADA action shifts back to Monticello next Wednesday (Nov. 5). First-race post time at Monticello is 12:10 p.m. (EST).

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

by Ray Cotolo, for the NAADA