USA lead Italians - Dark Poole wins
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.
by John Manzi, for NAADA
The Americans are still on top in the Italy v NAADA Challenge by virtue of a win today (July 4) by Alan Schwartz and a second by John Calabrese. Then a second place by Paul Minore in the second contest and a fifth by Joe Faraldo keeps the Americans on top. The Italians effort fell short in spite of their win, but they did close the gap.
After a recount of the points and two disqualifications, one on each side the points stand at 87 USA and 80 ITALY. Our hosts and the beautiful track Hippodromo Snai Sesana could not have arranged things better. The surface of the racetrack is somewhere between the best of Pocono and Delaware Ohio. You cannot hear a horse going over this surface.Tomorrow they will open the Castello first Medici just for us. This is the home of Catherine di Medici of Firenze in Italia. Mr. Daniele Orsini arranged everything and Alan won with his horse Viola Orsini.
Mr. Orsini also handed over an envelope that is not to be opened until team USA arrives home. It is either an invitation to return, a request to visit or a warning not to return again.
by Joe Faraldo, NAADA president
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