Hechkoff, Beltrami victorious in NAADA Trots

YONKERS, N.Y.— Bob Hechkoff and Tony Beltrami flexed dominant speed to win their respective divisions of the North American Amateur Drivers Association (NAADA) Trot at Yonkers Raceway on Thursday night (Sept. 24).

Hechkoff led every step with 1-2 chalk Whiskey Peddler to post a 1:58.3 victory in the $13,100 first division. Leaving from post 5, Hechkoff pushed past pylon starter Southside Bar (driven by Yogi Sheridan) to take the lead to a :27.3 first quarter before slamming the brakes for a :59.2 half. Whiskey Peddler faced minimal pressure as he accelerated for the backstretch and cruised by three-quarters in 1:28.1 in progress to a 1-1/2-length win over Southside Bar. My Secret Ability (Joe Lee) gave chase from a pylon trip for third and Hoolie N Hector (Tony Beltrami) followed in fourth.

WHISKY PEDDLER REPLAY

Frank Calcagni trains Whiskey Peddler, a 5-year-old gelding by Volstead, for owner R. B. H. Ventures Inc. He paid $3.08 to win.

Tony Beltrami persisted early with 9-2 shot Windsong Pioneer and put away his competition for a 1:58.4 romp in the $13,400 second division. Beltrami battled 6-5 chalk Lookatmegoamigo (Andrew Adamczyk) through a :28.1 first quarter and to a :58.3 half before sliding to the lead and spurting away. Windsong Pioneer clocked three-quarters in 1:28 and rolled through the final turn to reach for the beam a 6-1/4-length winner chased by PC Free Wheeling (Rey Franco), who rallied from a second-over trip for second. Cal Miles N Shell (John Calabrese) recovered from a break at the start to close from last for third and Lookatmegoamigo tired to fourth.

WINDSONG PIONEER REPLAY

Pat Lachance trains Windsong Pioneer, a 10-year-old gelding by E L Titan, for owner Thomas Ceraso Jr. He paid $10.78 to win.

NAADA action resumes at Yonkers Raceway next Thursday (Oct. 1) with the fourth leg of the club’s fall series. First-race post time is 6:45 p.m. (EDT).

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

by Ray Cotolo, for the NAADA