Yonkers, NY — Joe Pennacchio’s Keystone Blade bested Tony Verruso’s Winneress by a scant nose in the $15,000 final of the North American Amateur Driving Association Summer Trotting Series on Friday night (Aug. 20) at Yonkers Raceway.

Pennacchio sent his trotter to the lead through a :28.3 first quarter, while Verruso tucked Winneress in fourth to follow from off the pace through a :58 first half. Keystone Blade was still comfortable on the front end on the second lap, but when they rounded the final turn, Verruso rushed Winneress up alongside. The two trotters battled through the stretch, and were joined late by Judge Ken (Scott Keppler) nearing the finish.

It took the judges time to examine a photo finish, but 3-5 favorite Keystone Blade prevailed by a short nose.

“I thought we had won it, but I wasn’t sure,” Pennacchio said. “It was so close with three horses heads apart. But my horse was game and he hung on for the win.”

Keystone Blade is owned by Pennacchio’s Joe P Racing LLC and trained by Cory Stratton. He paid $3.20 to win.