Pompano Beach, FL – Amateur action continued at Pompano Park on Sunday (Jan. 16) and Monday (Jan. 17) as the Florida Amateur Driving Club (FADC) showcased three events with Joe Pennacchio, Gary Barbere and Dein Spriggs reaching the winner’s circle in their respective races.

Pennacchio, who won a FADC event one week earlier with The Big Muscle, made a return visit to the charmed circle on Sunday night by scoring a near gate-to-wire win with Keystone Blade in 1:58.1, the 9-year-old gelded son of Yankee Glide winning for the 29th time in to send his career bankroll to $214,920. The winner is owned by Pennacchio’s Joe P Racing Stable.

Joe Pennacchio was in the sulky as Keystone Blade took top honors in a Pompano Park amateur event on Sunday night. Jessica Hallett photo

For Pennacchio, who began his amateur driving career in 1995 with a win back of the aptly named Fox Valley Trump in Billings competition during Little Brown Jug week in Delaware, Ohio, it was his 206th career victory as he approaches $1,000,000 in career driving earnings.

Keystone Blade paid $7.40 to his faithful as third choice in the betting.

Barbere took top honors in the second FADC event with his own P L Jerico, trained by 86-year-old Odell Thompson.

The 9-year-old altered son of Manofmanymissions got picture perfect handling from Barbere as he sat chilly in the garden spot before rallying in the stretch to score in 1:57. The win was the 23rd for P L Jerico lifetime with his earnings now at $273,059. For Barbere, it was a milestone 75th career win with each ticket holder benefitting to the tune of $15 for their $2 investment.

On Monday night, Spriggs scored a repeat victory with his own Uva Hanover as this 11-year-old veteran son of Cantab Hall won in wire-to-wire fashion in 1:57.3.

The win edges Spriggs closer to the 500 mark–he’s at 486 now–and vaulted Uva Hanover’s lifetime earnings over the $600,000 plateau–now at $603,551.

Spriggs is in his 45th season as a driver and has six full seasons with a UDR (batting average) over .450.

Uva Hanover paid $5.80 as the second choice in the betting.

The Florida Amateur Driving Club has over 50 members that donate 100 percent of their driving earnings to charitable causes ranging from the Make=A-Wish Foundation to horse rescue operations and adoption placement for retired racehorses. They have donated over $220,000 since their inception.