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-mutuel 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 six-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 eight-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.
(NAADA)