NAADA starts Summer Series competition

YONKERS, N.Y.— Joe Faraldo swooped his competition and held the front spot late while Cote Keim kicked off a pocket trip to win their respective $14,000 divisions for the North American Amateur Drivers Association (NAADA) Summer Series opening harness racing preliminary on Thursday night (June 6) at Yonkers Raceway.

In the first division, Faraldo launched three wide to the final turn with Voyage To Paris (Dontyouforgetit) and just held on to win over a sloppy track in 2:00.4.

Allindotime (driven by John Calabrese) fired from the pylon post for the top with Cellular (Scott Keppler) securing the pocket and Voyage To Paris floating away third. Mr Contestant (Yogi Sheridan), the 6-5 favorite, found nowhere to sit at the pegs and thus marched forward uncovered into a :29 first quarter, but stayed stuck on the rim through a :59 half.

Faraldo grabbed brief cover from Mr Contestant moving to the half, but his tow began to tire up the backside and forced him to swing Voyage To Paris three high after Allindotime, who clicked by three-quarters in 1:29.2. Voyage To Paris continued to gain on Allindotime spinning off the bottom corner as Drop The Mic (Tony Beltrami) charged furiously down the center of the track. From between horses, Voyage To Paris held his ground and clenched the victory by a neck over Drop The Mic while Allindotime held third and Cellular took fourth.

Mark Ford trains Voyage To Paris, an 8-year-old gelding, for owners George and Rose Bonomo. He paid $6.50 to win.

VOYAGE TO PARIS REPLAY

Cote Keim then popped past pacesetter Raceace (Alan Schwartz) in the second NAADA split to win in 2:00.2 with Skyway Professor (Swan For All) as the 6-5 favorite.

With half the field off stride to a :29.1 first quarter, Raceace cruised on the point trailed by Skyway Professor. The pair strode one-two through tepid sectionals of 1:00.4 and 1:30.2 to ready for the final-quarter sprint. Skyway Professor swelled from the ride and launched into his attack on Raceace coming for home, grinding forward and downing the leader by a neck at the beam. Explosive Ridge (Andrew Adamczyk) recovered from a break at the start to close for third and Dark Pool (Tony Beltrami) gave chase in fourth.

Cote Keim trains Skyway Professor, a 5-year-old gelding, for owner Queen Of Hearts Stables. He paid $4.40 to win.

SKYWAY PROFESSOR REPLAY

The NAADA Summer Series continues with its second preliminary next Thursday (June 13) at Yonkers Raceway. First-race post time at Yonkers is 7 p.m. (EDT).

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

by Ray Cotolo, for NAADA