Keppler and Adamczyk NAADA winners

YONKERS, N.Y.— Andrew Adamczyk motored off a pocket trip and Scott Keppler rolled down the road to win in their respective $13,100 harness racing divisions of the North American Amateur Drivers Association (NAADA) Trot at Yonkers Raceway on Thursday night (Jan. 30).

Adamczyk romped in the first division with 9-5 second choice Bacardi (Southwind Frank) in a 1:58.4 mile.

Leaving from the pylon post, Adamczyk secured the pocket as Muscle Dan (driven by Tony Ciuffetelli) launched to the lead moving for a :28.3 first quarter. Big Charlie Moran (Joe Lee), the 7-5 favorite, pushed forward but was caught on the rim moving to a :58.2 half.

After applying mild pressure, Big Charlie Moran began a retreat while Bacardi took the outside opening to blast off the pegs and swoop to the lead heading to three-quarters in 1:28.3. He continued to open his lead with each stride through the turn and down the lane until crossing the line 7-3/4 lengths better than Fashion Forever (Dawn Anderson), who rallied off a pylon-trip for second. Muscle Dan faded to third and Awol Hanover (Steven Reisenweaver) sat a ground-saving trip for fourth.

BACARDI/ANDREW ADAMCZYK REPLAY

Julius Czermann Jr. trains Bacardi, a 7-year-old gelding, for owner Joseph Loprete. He paid $5.80 to win.

Scott Keppler denied all challengers in the second division when delivering 2-1 second choice I Got The Tab (Cantab Hall) to a 2:00.3 win.

Once seizing the lead after a :28.4 first quarter, I Got The Tab kept post-8 leaver Ima Standup Guy (Joe Faraldo) parked to a :58.4 half and remained in hand as the pressure persisted to three-quarters in 1:29. I Got The Tab held his ground as Ima Standup Guy stalled into the stretch to win by 1-1/4 lengths at the beam.

Pocket-sitter Shoemaker Hanover (John Calabrese) raced locked but grabbed second while 3-5 favorite Love This Bar (Bruce Baker) kicked from second over for third and Ima Standup Guy settled for fourth.

I GOT THE TAB/SCOTT KEPPLER REPLAY

Jose Godinez trains I Got The Tab, a 5-year-old gelding, for owner Scott Keppler. He paid $6.40 to win.

NAADA action resumes at Yonkers Raceway next Thursday (Feb. 6) for the third preliminary of six 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