Lee, Zuccarello both victorious in NAADA trots

Yonkers, NY— Two harness racing divisions of trotters in the NAADA Fall Series competed at Yonkers Raceway tonight (Aug 18) and when the judges deemed each official both Joe Lee and Matt Zuccarello reined a winner; Lee with Natural Kemp (Muscles Yankee) in 1:58.4 and Zuccarello with Judge Ken (Justice Hall) in 1:59.1.

In his division Lee and Natural Kemp started from the eight hole and were content ducking to the pylons and were six lengths off the early lead set by Nicole Dicostanzo and Jekyll N Hyde. After a quarter in :29 seconds Dicostanzo kept the pedal to the metal and they got first call by the half in :58.1and by the three quarters in 1:28.1.

Meanwhile after the quarter Lee began to urge his trotter and they slowly moved forward and they were fifth by the three quarters and fourth at the  top of the lane. In the stretch  Natural Kemp was the strong horse and he battled a hard charging Fiji (Dave Offenberg) and won a neck decision in 1:58.4 as Jekyll N Hyde faded and finished third.

The race winner is owned by Triple D Stables and trained by Edwin Quevido.

In the other split Bobby Krivelin sent Bully Boy to the lead from the eight hole and they had command after a :28.1 first panel. Without any serious challenges Bully Boy showed the way past the half in :58.3. At that point Matt Zuccarello moved Judge Ken off the pylons and set sights on the front end and they were second by the three quarters in 1:28.1. Still Bully Boy was in command but he braced for Wings Up (Joe Faraldo) who was charging down the lane. At the wire Judge Ken and Wings Up were side by side but the latter was the strong horse and finished as a neck winner in the 1:59.1 clocked mile. Bully Boy took home the show dough.

The winner us a new edition to trainer Dennis Laterza’s barn. He is owned by Winners Circle Racing and John Campagnoulo

For complete race results, click here.

by John Manzi, for NAADA