Schwartz, Keppler victorious in NAADA Trots

MONTICELLO, N.Y.— Alan Schwartz and Scott Keppler both registered pillar-to-post wins in their respective $8,500 harness racing divisions of the North American Amateur Drivers Association (NAADA) Trot at Monticello Raceway on Wednesday (June 17).

Schwartz bagged the first division with pylon-starter Everybodyluvjoe in a 1:59.4 mile. Grabbing the lead to a :28.3 first quarter, Everybodyluvjoe avoided trouble caused by first-up My Secret Ability (driven by Robert Ciavardini) breaking stride coming to a :59.1 half. Psalmsfortysixfive (Scott Keppler), the 4-5 favorite, worked around the breaker and raced three wide up the backstretch in pursuit of Everybodyluvjoe approaching three-quarters in 1:30. Everybodyluvjoe held his ground in the stretch for a head victory over Psalmsfortysixfive while Sd Eliminator (Enio Barrera) sat a pocket trip for third and My Secret Ability took fourth before being disqualified for interference while on a break. Jesses Doll (Rey Franco) moved up to fourth.

EVERYBODYLUVJOE REPLAY

Alan Schwartz owns and trains Everybodyluvjoe, a 5-year-old gelding by Helpisontheway. He paid $5.48 to win.

Keppler found the winner’s circle a few races later guiding pylon-starter Baby Tao to a front-stepping 1:59.1 in the other division. Baby Tao comfortably took command to a :29.4 first quarter and strolled towards a 1:00.1 half, at which point Woodside Genius (Robert Ciavardini) tipped off the pylons to lead the outside charge. Woodside Genius crept closer to Baby Tao nearing three-quarters in 1:29.2 but then stalled through the turn. Pocket-sitter Cal Miles N Shell livened for the stretch drive to mount a final challenge on Baby Tao, but Baby Tao maintained control to the finish by a neck. Cal Miles N Shell settled for second while Communion Money (Scott Bako) rallied from second over for third and Woodside Genius took fourth.

Jose Godinez trains Baby Tao, a 4-year-old gelding by Bar Hopping, for owner Scott Keppler. He paid $13.84 to win.

NAADA action resumes next Thursday (June 25) with the third preliminary of the club’s summer series at Yonkers Raceway. First-race post time is 6:45 p.m. (EDT).

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

by Ray Cotolo, for NAADA