by john manzi for NAADA
YONKERS, NY --The final preliminary contests prior to
the series finale in the NAADA Fall Trotting Series were staged before
the betting card at Yonkers Raceway on Friday night(Nov. 17) and when the
judges hung the official signs Paul Minore and Joe Faraldo emerge victorious in
their respective divisions.
Minore won with his old warhorse Wygant Prince in 2:01
while Faraldo scored behind Tough Get Going in 2:00.1.
In his contest Minore worked out a perfect two-hole journey
behind Bobby Krivelin’s Connie Keeper.
“Krivelin had to pole position and he raced to the
lead and since I had the two hole I fell in behind him on the first
turn,” Minore explained.
Once the field settled Minore just played follow the
leader which he did until the homestretch.
“When we rounded the final turn I eyed the passing
lane and then angled Wygant there and he trotted on to one length
victory over Krivelin’s horse.,” Minore added.
Peter Kleinhans and Toss Cartwright finished second
with the pacesetter Connie Keeper third.
Minore owns the 10-year-old altered son of SJ’s Photo
who’s trained by Taylor Gower. It was Wygant Prince’s second consecutive
victory and fifth this season.”
It was also the 93rd lifetime
driving victory for Minore, a retired New Jersey high school track and
field coach whose most famous pupil was world champion Carl Lewis.
In the other split NAADA president Joe Faraldo smoked
‘em with a solid 2:00.1 wire to wire triumph with Tough Get Going, a 4-year-old
Kadabra gelding he co-owns with trainer Richie Banca.
The hardworking barrister sent his charge to the lead
from the three-hole and despite the short field they were constantly
challenged. But Tough Get Going lived up to his name and turned back all
challengers despite being looked in the eye from the half to the finish.
“We made some equipment changes”, Faraldo said
referring to his trotter. “He was breathing funny, making noises like he was
gasping for air at the end of the mile the last few times I drove him so we put
on a throat plate and tied his tongue and it seemed to do the job ”
At the wire Tough Get Going was a neck better
than runner-up Mr. Ridgetaker ,d driven by Dave Yarock. Tim Lizzie and
driver Joe Lee were three lengths back in third.
