by john manzi for NAADA
YONKERS,
NY—Steve “You’re Never Too” Oldford and Peter “Enough Talk” Kleinshans each won
their respective splits in the NAADA Trots tonight, Friday, November 3rd
, at Yonkers Raceway. Oldford scored a come-from-behind triumph with
Starsaboverallerage in 2:00.1 while Kleinhans won with Toss Cartwright in an
exciting three-horse photo in a time of 2:00.4.
Both
races were non-wagering affairs and went to post prior to the first race on the
betting card.
In
his division Oldford heeded trainer Allen Sisco’s instructions and kept
Starsaboverallerage covered as long as possible.
“Going
to the three quarters I was tight on Alan Schwartz’s helmet and followed him
and (his trotter) Linda Marie around the final turn and when I popped the (ear)
plugs on Starsaboverallerage he exploded,” Oldford explained. “My
horse moved forward so quickly that I had to butt shuffle my sulky
to clear room and when we had an open road he trotted around Monica Banca (with
Brandos Muscle Man) and we went on to an easy length victory.”
Third
place went to Wygant Prince, driven by Paul Minore.
It
was Oldford’s first drive in the NAADA events this year although he has
been a steady competitor in the Billings Series this year which , by the
way, will be on display tomorrow night here at Yonkers Raceway,
And
after winning that organization’s Travel Series Final earlier this season
Oldford has already qualified for the $25,000 Billings Series Gold
Cup Final which will also be here at Yonkers Raceway in late November.
For
Oldford,a former National Amateur Driver of the Year, the victory was his 13th
this season and the 129th of his amateur driving career.
To
determine a winner in the second NAADA division wasn’t near as easy as it was
in the first split when three trotters, and their determined drivers, made an
all- out charge to the finish line just heads apart. When the photo finish
camera snapped it was determined that Peter “Enough Talk” Kleinhans and Toss
Cartwright out-footed their competition to win by a head.
Second
place, right there, was Fox Valley Steffen and driver “Lady Jennifer” Lappe
while the show dough was garnered by the pace-setter Tough Get Going,
driven by “Smokin’ Joe” Faraldo.
When
the gate sprung Faraldo and Tough Get Going took command and after steady early
fractions Tough Get Going was still on the lead as the field rounded the final
turn and headed for pay-dirt.They were overtaken momentarily by Fox Valley
Steffen, but in the deep stretch Kleinhans and his charge trotted to the front
and they were the first to the wire.
It
was the fourth seasonal triumph for Kleinhans and the 55th of
his career.
