Anthony Verruso vaulted off a pocket ride to a victory with Big Limo in the $18,194 North American Amateur Drivers Association (NAADA) Trot at Yonkers Raceway on Thursday, May 1.
Leaving from post two, Verruso (pictured above in a previous win) secured the seat behind pacesetter Muscle Dan (driven by Tony Ciuffetelli) heading towards a :28.2 first quarter. Big Limo stayed steady from the pocket while Muscle Dan strolled to a :59.4 half and quickened up the backside – in the face of first-over pressure from Shoemaker Hanover (John Calabrese) – to three-quarters in 1:29.4. Muscle Dan and Shoemaker Hanover sparred all through the turn and into the stretch while Verruso waited and found room out of the pocket to launch forward late and grab the win. Muscle Dan settled for second with Shoemaker Hanover third and Psalmsfortysixfive (Scott Keppler) fourth.
Veronica Spicer trains Big Limo, a five-year-old gelding by What The Hill, for owner Peter Kleinhans. He paid $12 to win.
NAADA action continues next Thursday (May 8) at Yonkers Raceway with the eighth preliminary of the club’s Spring Fling Series. First-race post time at Yonkers is 6:45 p.m. (EDT).
(NAADA)