Two $10,000 divisions of trotters went to post tonight prior to the betting card getting at Yonkers Raceway and when the judges posted the official signs Scott Keppler and Alan Schwartz each reined a winner; Keppler with Judge Ken in 2:00.2 and Schwartz with Ladys Big Stormont in 1:59.3.
After two consecutive breaks Judge Ken was all business tonight. Keppler eased him cautiously away at the start and settled in third as the field passed the first stanza. Once settled at his work Keppler moved the altered son of Justice Hall to the outside and they overtook Stealing (Matt Zuccarello) as the two trotters passed the third stanza. But when they headed for paydirt Judge Ken showed the way to the wire. Stealing was second while Joe Faraldo rallied Gemeni Eddie up for the show dough.
Keppler owns the winner who is trained by Steve Moore.
The second split was barn-burner with three horses rushing to the finish line noses apart. Ladys Big Stormont zoomed to the lead and cut all the fractions and still had enough left to rebuff the hard charging All Night Credit (Matt Zuccarello) and Cimeronken in rein to David Glasser.
Schwartz owns and trains Ladys Big Stormont who notched his 41st career victory But it was the 10-year-old's first seasonal win
(NAADA)