Two divisions of trotters did battle in the North American Amateur Drivers Series at Yonkers Raceway on Thursday evening, and when they were declared official Bob Hechkoff and Tony Ciuffetelli, Jr. each emerged victorious in their respective non-wagering divisions.
Hechkoff guided Five Towns to a 2:01.3 triumph while Ciuffetelli scored with Someway Same Hall in 1:59.3; both races contested before the wagering card got underway over a rain slicked oval.
In his division Hechkoff sent Five Towns to the front and due to the short five-horse field they got away with :30.1 first quarter with no challenges. But when they headed for the halfway point Miguel Alejo Hernandez was out and moving with Tropical Trice and the two raced side by side until he three quarters when Hechkoff's trotter rebuffed the challenge and then braced for Paul Minore and his veteran Wygant Prince. But Five Towns held strong and rambled to a 1-1/4 length triumph over Minore's trotter. Tropical Trice faded and finished third.
Five Towns is owned by RBH Ventures and Spagnola Racing and trained by Kyle Spagnola.
The second NAADA split saw Tony Ciuffetelli, Jr. sit a pocket until the head of the stretch and then hustle his trotter to a length triumph in the 1:59.3 clocked mile.
After Joe Lee zipped Soul Train to the lead when the gate sprung Ciuffetelli was content to sit in the two-hole and follow the leader. Fast early fractions over the rain-soaked race course took a toll on the leader and when Ciuffetelli decided to challenge late in the mile Someway Same Hall didn't have any trouble circling Soul Train and rallying to victory. Meanwhile in the deep stretch Dave Offenberg hustled Fiji up for second money while Soul Train faded and finished third.
Someway Same Hall is owned by his driver and trained by Joe Ciuffetelli.
The NAADA Trotting Series continues next Thursday at Monticello Raceway.
(NAADA)