Prior to going out for the post parade in the NAADA Trot at Monticello Raceway Joe Pennacchio was queried about his chances with his veteran trotter Sir Winston who was to start from the five-hole. Without much hesitation he said: “If he doesn’t bleed he’ll win.”

Well, Sir Winston, a career winner of over $390,000, didn’t bleed in the race and was victorious just like Pennacchio predicted.

When the starter said go Pennacchio gunned the nine-year-old Revenue S gelding to the lead and they had some racing luck when Alan Schwartz’s trotter Typical Newyorker, who was pressuring him for the lead, made a break directly in front of the 1-2 betting favourite Casanova Lindy (Hannah Miller) who was hot on Schwartz’s tail. Unfortunately Typical Newyorker’s misstep made a tough journey for Miller who had hoped for a covered trip behind Schwartz.

When that inkling didn’t work out Miller found herself hung out and with little chance of gaining the front-end from Pennacchio.

“Her horse wasn’t coming that strongly so I didn’t want to grab into my horse since he might have bled if I did,” Pennacchio admitted.

So Casanova Lindy went the long mile never seeing the pylons and it wasn’t until the deep stretch that he tired and finished just two lengths behind Sir Winston in third place. Nautilus De Vie, who was traveling along in the catbird’s seat with Dave Yarock at the controls, used the passing lane to finish second.

Pennacchio’s Joe P Racing Stable owns the winner who is trained by Dan Altman. Sir Winston paid $26.20 while winning his second seasonal contest.

For Pennacchio, a retired business CEO, it was his sixth seasonal driving victory and the 149th of his amateur career.

After the race, Pennacchio and Miller headed for Yonkers Raceway where they were scheduled to drive that night in the Billings Series.

(NAADA)