Verruso and Keppler are NAADA winners

Yonkers, NY—Two $8,000 harness racing divisions in the current North American Amateur Drivers Association Trotting Series were contested tonight at Yonkers Raceway and when the judges posted the winners Tony Verruso and Scott Keppler walked away victorious after copping their respective splits. Verruso was victorious with Winneress in 1:59.3 while Keppler scored with Judge Ken in 1:58.

Verruso, who doubles as a flight attendant when not piloting a Standardbred, is enjoying his beat season in the sulky. With his victory tonight “the Capo” now has 12 wins in 36 trips to post and is sporting a ,506 UDR.

In tonight’s contest Verruso left hard from the five- hole and fell in behind Joe Fataldo who was in control on the lead with Grafenberg. They raced one-two past the quarter in :29 and by the half in .59.4.

With no one challenging the order remained the same by the three quarters in 1:30. And when the two trotters headed for paydirt, Verruso angled Winneress (Credit Winner) out to challenge and they raced heads apart to the wire. The tight photo showed that Winneress got up for a head victory over Grafenberg. Shoot The Thrill finished third for Scott Keppler.

Veruso owns the winner who’s trained by Symon Spicer.

In the other heat Scott Keppler rushed Judge Ken to the lead and they remained unchallenged throughout fractions of :29- and :58.4.before drawing clear.

By the third stanza Judge Ken (Justice Hall) began to open a 3-length lead and the veteran trotter cruised home an easy 5-1/2 length winner over PC Foreign Affair (Joe Pennacchio) in a time of 1:58. Dave Offenberg picked up the show dough with Fiji.

Keppler owns the winner who’s trained by Steve Moore.

Both races were non betting affairs.

For full race results, click here.

by John Manzi for NAADA