Polansky shocks, Beltrami romps in NAADA Trots

YONKERS, N.Y.— Mike Polansky held for a 39-1 surprise and Tony Beltrami crushed with a 3-5 favorite to win in their respective $14,100 harness racing divisions for the North American Amateur Drivers Association (NAADA) Trot at Yonkers Raceway on Thursday night (April 30).

Polansky took full advantage of a trio of breakers, including 9-5 favorite Brave By Design (driven by Yogi Sheridan), with his charge Certify to take the front from post 8 and hold his ground for an upset in 2:01.3. Once clearing the lead from Windsong Pioneer (Tony Beltrami) past a :28.3 first quarter, Polansky hit the brakes to a 1:00.2 half and gradually quickened as Big Charlie Moran (John Calabrese) pulled off the pylons from fourth to push uncovered towards the leader. Certify clicked three-quarters in 1:29.4 and easily held sway over Big Charlie Moran in the lane for a three-quarter length win while pocket-sitter Windsong Pioneer settled for third. Kilimanjaro NL (Joe Lee) finished fourth.

CERTIFY REPLAY

Michael Fiumenero owns and trains Certify, a 10-year-old gelding by Credit Winner. He paid $80.18 to win.

Beltrami later bolted clear of competition with Roger Rabbit to score a 1:58.3 victory by open lengths. He landed his charge on the lead past a :29 first quarter and began pulling away from his competition past a :59.4 half. By three-quarters in 1:29, Beltrami opened several lengths on pocket-chaser Papa Joe Lozito (Robert Ciavardini) and continued widening his lead in the final quarter. Roger Rabbit scampered past the beam 11-1/4 lengths better than Papa Joe Lozito in second while Muscle Spasm (Yogi Sheridan) pushed first up for third and All To Well (John Calabrese) closed for fourth.

ROGER RABBIT REPLAY

Mark Ford trains Roger Rabbit, a 9-year-old gelding by Sebastian K S, for owners George and Rose Bonomo. He paid $3.42 to win.

NAADA action resumes at Yonkers next Thursday (May 7) with the eighth and final leg of the club’s spring 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