Alan Schwartz snagged a pair of victories from the $17,703 divisions of the North American Amateur Drivers Association (NAADA) Spring Series Trot at Yonkers Raceway on Thursday, March 28.
Schwartz first won the lone non-betting dash of the NAADA Trot behind Bully Boy in a 2:02.2 mile. Procuring a pocket ride behind Ghibli (Anthony Verruso), Bully Boy stayed in the leader’s slipstream while By A Hoff Hanover (Tony Beltrami) remained a pick on the rim when parked through the first half. Ghibli clocked opening fractions of :28 and :58.4, but once By A Hoff Hanover retreated into the backstretch Schwartz launched Bully Boy onto the attack. Bully Boy seized the lead after three-quarters in 1:30.2 and pulled clear through the final turn to win going away by 1-1/2 lengths. Dingle (John Calabrese) took second, Bacardi (Joe Lee) closed for third and Graffenberg (Joe Faraldo) finished fourth.
Gary Messenger trains Bully Boy, an eight-year-old gelding by Jailhouse Jesse, for owner Brenda Messenger.
In the first NAADA betting division, Schwartz delivered on a romp with odds-on favourite Itsoneofthose in 1:58.1. The race went into knockout at the gate’s folding with Schwartz barrelling Itsoneofthose to a five-length lead heading for a :27.3 scorcher. As he slowed the tempo to a :57.3 half, his lead gradually expanded. Itsoneofthose clicked by three-quarters in 1:26.4 on a 10-length lead and moseyed home to cross the beam seven lengths in front. Muscle Dan (Tony Ciuffetelli) gave chase to take second with Explosive Ridge (Andrew Adamczyk) another three lengths behind in third and Skyway Professor (Matt Zuccarello) another five lengths back in fourth.
Schwartz owns and trains Itsoneofthose, a seven-year-old gelding by Chapter Seven. He paid $2.70 to win.
Scott Keppler then pulled a large upset when striking in the final NAADA Trot division with the longest shot on the board in a 2:02.2 mile. Keppler, steering Swan Factor, secured a pocket trip to leader Just A Passenger (Andrew Adamczyk) and remained put as La Magic (Tony Beltrami) raced uncovered to their outside. Just A Passenger, clocking a :29.4 first quarter and 1:01 half, found himself alone on the lead as La Magic tired from the wide journey into the backstretch but Swan Factor maintained interest from in second. By three-quarters in 1:31.1, Just A Passenger appeared strong on the lead spinning for home until Keppler fed Swan Factor racetrack, and the bomber flew in a 2-1/4-length winner at the line. Just A Passenger settled for second with odds-on favourite Pappy Go Go (Yogi Sheridan) closing for third and Shoemaker Hanover (John Calabrese) taking fourth.
Keppler owns Swan Factor, a four-year-old gelding by Swan For All who is trained by Jose Godinez. Swan Factor returned $94 to win.
NAADA action shifts to Monticello next Wednesday, April 3 for leg four of the Spring Series. First-race post time at Monticello is 12:10 p.m. (EDT).
(NAADA)