Keppler rallies to win NAADA Trot

MONTICELLO, N.Y.— Scott Keppler thrusted forward past a shuffle of challengers to bag the $7,500 North American Amateur Drivers Association (NAADA) Trot with even-money favorite Psalmsfortysixfive at Monticello Raceway on Wednesday (July 23).

Leaving from post 5, Keppler planted Pslamsfortysixfive into fourth as Woodside Genius (driven by Scott Woogen) zipped to the lead before a :30 first quarter. Feeriedesbrouetsfr (Robert Krivelin) charged with a swift brush to challenge the leader, but lost ground on the outside and left Woodside Genius alone moving to a 1:00 half. Mark Of A Beast (Joe Faraldo) then pulled from the pocket into the backstretch, with Star Hairdresser (Andrew Adamczyk) on his back, and pushed to match strides with Woodside Genius until he veered three wide into the last turn. Keppler seized the opening and split past traffic in the last turn to grab the lead and scoot away to a 1-1/4-length win in 2:01. Star Hairdresser took second with Mark Of A Beast finishing third and Woodside Genius fading to fourth.

PSLAMFORTUFIVE REPLAY

Jose Godinez trains Psalmsfortysixfive, a 5-year-old mare by Fitzmagic, for owner Scott Keppler. She paid $4.20 to win.

NAADA action continues next Thursday (July 31) at Yonkers Raceway with the seventh leg of the club’s summer series. First-race post time at Yonkers is 6:45 p.m. (EDT).

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

by Ray Cotolo, for the NAADA