NAADA Trot wins to Adamczyk and Keppler

MONTICELLO, N.Y.— Andrew Adamczyk fired down the road and Scott Keppler made an aggressive uncovered brush to win in their respective $8,500 divisions of the North American Amateur Drivers Association (NAADA) Trot at Monticello Raceway on Wednesday (April 15).

Adamczyk overcame the widest draw in the septet to deliver 7-2 third choice Woodside Genius to a pillar-to-post victory in 1:59. After clearing Perron (driven by Joe Lee) for the lead heading to the first quarter, Woodside Genius then endured pressure from a parked Big Charlie Moran (Tony Beltrami) that persisted through splits of :28.1, :57.4 and 1:28.1. The wide trip eventually tired Big Charlie Moran and he kicked evenly for home while Woodside Genius spurted away to a four-length victory. Reel Em In (Tony Ciuffetelli) saved ground to take third and Brave By Design (Yogi Sheridan) closed from third over for fourth.

Gary Messenger trains Woodside Genius, a 6-year-old gelding by Dover Dan, for owners Brenda Messenger and Scott Woogen. He paid $9.88 to win.

Scott Keppler later delivered 8-5 second choice Doo Wop Kid to a 1:59.2 victory in the second NAADA division. Keppler floated off the car into a mid-pack position as Empire Builder (Andrew Adamczyk) pushed to grab the lead from Yucatan Party Man (Tony Ciuffetelli) passing a :28.3 first quarter. Adamczyk then reined in his charge’s speed to a 1:00.2 half, at which point Keppler angled off the pylons from fourth and began a first-over blitz for the lead. Doo Wop Kid marched to match strides with Empire Builder to three-quarters in 1:30.2 and swiftly overhauled that rival through the last turn. He maintained his speed all through the stretch for a 1-1/2-length win as pocket-sitter Yucatan Party Man rallied for second. Empire Builder settled for third and Kilimanjaro NL (Joe Lee) finished fourth.

Alan Schwartz owns and trains Doo Wop Kid, a 7-year-old gelding by Wishing Stone. He paid $5.38 to win.

NAADA action resumes next Wednesday (April 22) at Monticello for the sixth preliminary of the club’s spring series. First-race post time at Monticello is 12:10 p.m. (EDT)

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

by Ray Cotolo, for the NAADA