Faraldo, Adamczyk score in NAADA Trots

YONKERS, N.Y.— Joe Faraldo prevailed with a first-up push as did Andrew Adamczyk later in the card to win their respective $13,700 harness racing divisions of the North American Amateur Drivers Association (NAADA) Trot at Yonkers Raceway on Thursday night (Sept. 18).

Faraldo delivered an 11-1 upset with Kilauea (Kadabra) in a 2:00.1 mile. After landing in third to a :28.4 first quarter, Faraldo began his bid after tempo-setter Kilimanjaro NL (driven by Joe Lee) on the march to a :59.4 half.

Kilauea locked eyes with Kilimanjaro NL through the next turn and up the backside on the approach to three-quarters in 1:29.3. Kilimanjaro NL gave way to Kilauea through the final turn, and Kilauea held firmly in the stretch as J-s Hopscotch (Tony Beltrami) rallied late but settled for second, beaten a neck.

Certify (Mike Polansky) sat a pocket trip for third and Velociraptor (Cote Keim), the 9-5 favorite, recovered from a break at the start to close for fourth.

KILAUEA REPLAY

Scott Di Domenico trains Kilauea, a 7-year-old gelding by Kadabra, for owners Joe Faraldo and Triple D Stables Inc. He paid $24.44 to win.

Andrew Adamczyk later found the winner’s circle with Backstreet Player to win in a 1:58.4 mile. Adamczyk sat fourth while Swiss House Onfire (Scott Keppler) cruised on the point through a :28.2 first quarter, and Adamczyk soon pulled his charge outside to race uncovered into a :58.2 half. Backstreet Player advanced on the rim moving to three-quarters in 1:28 and engaged in battle with Swiss House Onfire through the final turn. Swiss House Onfire eventually caved in the stretch battle to Backstreet Player by a neck while Creative Venture (Tony Beltrami) swooped onto the scene late and just missed scooping the top two, settling for third. Doo Wop Kid (Alan Schwartz) sat a pocket trip and took fourth.

BACKSTREET PLAYER REPLAY

Nick Devita trains Backstreet Player, a 6-year-old gelding by Cantab Hall, for owner David Hamm. He paid $9.24 to win.

NAADA action continues next Thursday (Sept. 26) with the third preliminary of the club’s Fall Trotting 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