Calabrese, Beltrami Victorious in Yonkers NAADA Trots

YONKERS, N.Y.— John Calabrese and Tony Beltrami both reeled in the competition to bag wins in the pair of $13,100 North American Amateur Drivers Association (NAADA) Trots at Yonkers Raceway on Thursday night (Feb. 26).

Calabrese stormed home with Kameran Hanover to score a 1:59.4 win in the first NAADA division. Unhurried out of post 3, Kameran Hanover settled into third after a :28.3 first quarter, where first-over Southwind Mac (driven by Bob Hechkoff) broke stride and left leader Muscle Dan (Tony Ciuffetelli) alone on the point. Muscle Dan cruised to the half in :58.4 but soon faced pressure as Windsong Pioneer (Tony Beltrami) brushed swiftly from mid-pack towards the front. Kameran Hanover meanwhile stayed steady to three-quarters in 1:29.2 and promptly lifted as the top pair tired into the stretch.

Calabrese unleashed his charge and swooped past the embroiled duo to notch a 1-1/4-length win. Windsong Pioneer took second with Muscle Dan finishing third and Mr Contestant (Yogi Sheridan) recovered took fourth via double disqualification.

KAMERAN HANOVER REPLAY

Jody Riedel trains and co-owns Kameran Hanover, a 12-year-old stallion by Donato Hanover, with Joe Lee. He paid $12.02 to win.

Tony Beltrami later sniped a breakaway leader to deliver Creative Venture to a 2:01 victory in the second NAADA Trot. Beltrami positioned Creative Venture in fourth as 9-5 favorite Swiss House Onfire (Yogi Sheridan) darted to a wide lead with pocket-sitter Youmeandwhiskey (Geovany Hernandez) breaking stride heading for a :28.2 first quarter. Swiss House Onfire strode comfortably to the half in :58.3 while pocket-sitter Ima Standup Guy (Joe Faraldo) began looming out of the pocket to attack. Ima Standup Guy drew alongside Swiss House Onfire after three-quarters in 1:29.1 as Tony Beltrami gathered speed with Creative Venture. Beltrami fanned three wide into the stretch and ground down Swiss House Onfire to the beam to notch the win by a head while Ima Standup Guy settled for third and Fashion Forever (Dawn Anderson) gave chase for fourth.

Paul Stafford trains Creative Venture, an 8-year-old gelding by Creatine, for owner Thomas Ceraso Jr. He paid $7.48 to win.

The NAADA Winter Series goes to a $20,000 final next Thursday (March 5) at Yonkers Raceway. First-race post time at Yonkers is 6:45 p.m. (EST).

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

by Ray Cotolo, for the NAADA