by John Manzi, for NAADA
Yonkers, NY ---There's
an old adage in harness racing that states “more horses made men than men made
horses”. And although gender is not quite accurate that statement could
highlight Dark Poole's prowess as the veteran gelding has recently won races
with two different amateur drivers.
A month ago Dark Poole gave
16-year old Brett Beckwith his first pari-mutul win and recently the veteran
side-wheeler came into tonight's NAADA trot with two consecutive victories—both
guided to triumphs by Annie Stoebe.
But at Yonkers Raceway on
Labor Day night Stoebe was traded for young Brett Beckwith and the 6-year-old
Cantab Hall gelding didn't miss a beat and trotted to a wire-to-wire triumph in
1:57.1 for owner- trainer, Paul Fusco.
Having the pole position was
certainly an asset and a :28.1 first quarter made a statement that Dark Poole
was here for action. Once on top Beckwith kept the pedal to the metal and they
trotted through fractions of :58.2 and 1:27.4 and they led Tough Get Going and
driver Tony Verruso, all the way to the wire before finishing 1-3/4 lengths to
the good in the 1:57.1 clocked mile. Third place in the 8-horse field went to
Cheeky Little Miss in rein to Joe Pennacchio.
For the record Verruso
subbed for Joe Faraldo, who is the captain of the NAADA team which is abroad
competing against their Italian counterparts in a three- race series on Italian
soil.
