Monticello, NY—After
spending the winter competing in amateur races at Pompano Park, Joe Pennacchio,
last years Amateur Driver of the Year, has moved north and made his first start
in this season's NAADA trotting series a winning one when he guided his own
Cash For Gold to an easy two length triumph in a 1:59.4 clocking and turned
back seven others at Monticello Raceway on Thursday afternoon, April 11.
“It wasn't easy because he's
a high stung individual and he wears you arms out prior to the start,”
Pennacchio offered after the race was completed. “He's a nervous sort who
'latches on' prior to the race so much so that I have to take him back to the
paddock to rest my arms and then go behind the gate when we're called to do
so.”
After starting from the
seven-hole as second choice in the betting, Pennacchio sent his trotter toward
the front but smartly took a tuck before the first quarter was trotted in:29.3.
However, he didn't stay there long and moved to the outside as the field, led
by last week's winner, Tough Get Going and driver Joe Faraldo, approached the
halfway point in :59.3
When the leaders
straightened up the backside and headed for the three quarters, Cash For Gold
was pressuring Tough Get Going but the latter rebuffed the former and Faraldo's
charge still had command as the three quarter timer flashed 1:29.4.
I
n the lane Monica Banca,
with the race favorite High Blue, was sitting along the pylons in third
position and was looking for daylight. But racing room in the lane never appeared
until mid-stretch and when Banca sent her trotter up the pylons it was too late
as Cash For Gold trotted clear to score the victory. Tough Get Going held on
for the show dough.
“He has been prone to making
breaks on the double ovals but this was one of his best miles on half mile
track,” a happy Joe Pennacchio said after the race referring to Cash For Gold's
1:59.4 victory.
Owned by Joe P Racing and
trained by Allen Sisco, the winner scored his first victory of the season and
returned $6.90 for win.
In the quest to determine
who'll represent NAADA in an amateur competition in Italy later this year Joe
Faraldo, with 29 points, leads Joe Lee (22), Bob Krivelin (21), Paul Minore
(16) Alan Schwartz (16) and Monica Banca (16). At series end the top three in
points will vie for a chance to get that all expense -paid trip to represent
NAADA against the Italians in an international competition.
