Keppler scores in NAADA Trot

MONTICELLO, N.Y.— Scott Keppler went down the road with Psalmsfortysixfive and held on for a 2:01.2 harness racing victory in the $7,500 North American Amateur Drivers Association (NAADA) Trot at Monticello Raceway on Wednesday (Aug. 27).

Leaving from post 5, Keppler cleared command from pylon-starter Kilimanjaro NL (driven by Rob Krivelin) moving for a :31 first quarter. Keppler cruised on the point to a 1:01.4 half with mild pressure coming from parked 4-5 chalk Reel Em In (Alan Schwartz). Reel Em In retreated from the wide trip up the backstretch, giving Star Hairdresser (McKenzie Sowers) an opportunity to pounce out of third while Psalmsfortysixfive continued on a snug lead to three-quarters in 1:30.3. Psalmsfortysixfive had ample cushion on the lead coming for home and staved off Star Hairdresser’s push by three-quarter lengths at the finish while Backstreet Player (Joe Pennacchio) rallied for third and Reel Em In held fourth.

PSALMFORTYSIXFIVE REPLAY

Jose Godinez trains Psalmsfortysixfive, a 5-year-old mare by Fitzmagic, for owner Scott Keppler. She paid $6.60 to win.

The NAADA Summer Series goes to final next Thursday (Sept. 4) for a $20,000 purse at Yonkers Raceway. 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