Southside Bar and My Secret Ability take NAADA honours

MONTICELLO, N.Y.— Robert Ciavardini pounced from a pocket trip and Yogi Sheridan rolled on the lead to win in their respective $8,500 harness racing divisions of the North American Amateur Drivers Association (NAADA) Summer Series opening preliminary on Wednesday (June 10) at Monticello Raceway.

Ciavardini scored an 11-1 upset from a pocket ride with My Secret Ability in a 1:59.1 mile. He secured the seat behind pacesetter Premier Victor (Alan Schwartz) through a :28.4 first quarter and tracked comfortably through tepid fractions of :59 and 1:29. Come stretch time, My Secret Ability lifted after the leader and grabbed control with ease for a length victory while Premier Victor settled for second. Baby Tao (Scott Keppler) rallied from last for third and Royalty Star (Rey Franco) sat a ground-saving trip for fourth.

MY SECRET ABILITY REPLAY

Daniel Gill trains My Secret Ability, a 6-year-old gelding by My MVP, for owner Adam Friedland. He paid $25.70 to win.

Yogi Sheridan later led every step with 8-5 favorite Southside Bar to win in a 1:59 mile. Sheridan took command to a :29.3 first quarter and parked challenging The Last Chapter through the second turn to stroll for the half in :59.2. The Last Chapter tired from the bid moving for the backstretch, leaving Southside Bar to coast alone on the lead to three-quarters in 1:29. Southside Bar had enough left in reserve for the stretch to hold off a late push by pocket-chaser Communion Money (Scott Bako) to win by a half length while Jumpshot (Scott Keppler) came from last for third. The Last Chapter faded to fourth.

SOUTHSIDE BAR REPLAY

Peter Pellegrino trains Southside Bar, a 5-year-old gelding by Bar Hopping, for owner Room4040 LLC Stables. He paid $5.40 to win.

NAADA action resumes next Wednesday (June 17) at Monticello Raceway for the second leg of the club’s summer 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 NAADA