$15,000 NAADA Final was Stealing for Zuccarello

Yonkers, NY–There are horses for courses and there are harness racing drivers who fit their mounts perfectly. Case in point- driver Matt Zuccarello and his trotter, Stealing. Together they were victorious in the $15,000 North American Amateur Drivers Association Series finale at Yonkers Raceway Thursday (Nov. 18).

“I had the seven-hole tonight so I went for the front hoping to find a seat along the pylons, but I got closed out and so I ventured to the top,” Zuccrrello said. “We made the front end but we were not alone because Ladys Big Stormont ( Alan Schwartz) was parked out and ended-up challenging us for the lead.”

The aforementioned were one-two as they trotted by the first quarter in a rather soft :29.2. Still side by side as they passed the half in :59 but Schwartz’s trotter tired and Tony Beltrami and Dark Poole, who was first-up, took up the chase.

“I didn’t like the challenge from Beltrami but we put him away and braced for Keystone Blade (Joe Pennacchio). He ranged up but he flattened out in mid-stretch.But as he faded Crazycat and Bob Krivelin were rallying from the back of the pack and they trotted by Dark Pool and had a shot at us in the deep stretch,” Zuccarrello explained. “However, Stealing was up to the challenge and went on to a 1-1/2- length triumph over Crazycat,”

Dark Poole was third best in that 1:59.2 clocked mile.

Stealing is owned by Winners Circle Racing, John Campagnuolo, and Latz A Luck Stable and trained by Dennis Laterza. It was Zuccarello’s 16th driving victory this season and pushed his UDR up over .550.

For full race results, click here.

by John Manzi, for NAADA