Monticello Raceway NAADA Trot to Pennacchio

Monticello, NY-– Harness racing amateur driver Joe Pennacchio got some traveling money when he defeated seven others in the $7,000 North America Amateur Drivers Association (NAADA) Trot today at Monticello Raceway when he guided his own Keystone Blade to a 2:02.3 triumph.

When the starter turned the field loose Makin Trouble K (Joe Lee) and Raceace (Alan Schwartz) gunned for the lead and were joined by Keystone Blade who found room along the pylons in third position after leaving from the eight hole

Meanwhile Joe Lee showed the way past the quarter in a soft :30.1 with Schwartz on his back with Raceace. Despite finding a hole Pennacchio was the first to move after the slow first quarter.

“With horses coming from the back I didn’t want to get locked-in so I moved Keystone Blade to the outside but didn’t rush him for the lead,” Penncchio explained.

When they passed the half in 1:01.2 Pennachio’s trotter sat alongside Makin Trouble K up the backside as the two leaders passed the third stanza heads apart in 1:32 with Schwartz looking for racing room for Raceace.

As leaders turned for home Schwartz found room along the inside. . “I moved him (Raceace) down along the pylons as we headed for home but he just hung and really didn’t try hard to pass the competition,” Schwartz explained.

So three horses headed for pay dirt side by side but it was Keystone Blade who was the first one home. Under strong urging Schwartz got Raceace home second best while Makin Trouble K faded slightly and finished third.as the timer flashed 2:02.3.

Owned by Joe P Racing and trained by Cory Stratton, Keystone Blade paid $10.80 for the win.

KEYSTONE BLADE REPLAY

And tomorrow Pennacchio will be returning to his home in southern Florida to race in the amateur series at Pompano Park  and will be back north only sporadically for the remainder of the 2012 season.

For full race results, click here.

by John Manzi, for NAADA