Monticello, NY — There’s an old adage that states ‘when you’re hot you’re hot’ and that expression could certainly apply to driver Tony Verruso.

On the Wednesday (June 23) afternoon card at Monticello Raceway, the veteran amateur driver reined Winneress to a 1:59.2, gate-to-wire triumph in the NAADA Trot. It was Verruso’s ninth victory in 29 seasonal starts, with a 2021 UDR of .525.

Sent off as the second choice in the eight-horse field, Verruso gunned his trotter to the lead from the pole position and they trotted by the first stanza in :29.1. With the rest of the field settling in along the pylons, Verruso got his trotter unchallenged by the half in :59.3. But as Winneress headed to the three-quarters his stride had a momentarily slight hitch.

“I scratched him last week because of a quarter crack and since then I had the blacksmith fit him with a bar shoe,” Verruso said. “In today’s race it was a good thing that I had a steady hold on him up the backside because for a quick moment his stride was affected when he forged, but I gathered him quickly and it was hard to notice that he skipped a beat.”

Still, with a two length lead as the field rounded the final turn, it was apparent that Winneress was going to win despite a valiant effort from Stealing and driver Matt Zuccarello who charged home second best. The betting favorite, Raceace, finished third for Alan Schwartz.

Winneress, a 7-year-old Credit Winner gelding, is owned by Verruso and trained by Symon Spicer. He paid $5.70 for win.

Also on the card was a short field amateur pacing event which went to Burning Desire in 1:58.2. He was driven by Zuccarello and paid $11.40 for win.