Yonkers, NY — There are horses for courses, and there are drivers who fit their mounts perfectly. Case in point: Matt Zuccarello and his trotter Stealing. Together, they were victorious in Thursday’s (Nov. 18) $15,000 North American Amateur Drivers Association series finale at Yonkers Raceway, winning in 1:59.2.

“I had the seven-hole tonight, so I went for the front hoping to find a seat along the pylons, but I got closed out, and so I ventured to the top,” Zuccrrello said. “We made the front end, but we were not alone because Ladys Big Stormont was parked out and ended up challenging us for the lead.”

The aforementioned were one-two through a rather soft :29.2 first quarter, andtill side by side as they passed the half in :59. Schwartz’s trotter, Ladys Big Stormont, tired, and Tony Beltrami took up the first-over chase with Dark Pool.

“I didn’t like the challenge from Beltrami, but we put him away and braced for Keystone Blade (Joe Pennacchio). He ranged up but he flattened out in mid-stretch. But as he faded, Crazycat and Bob Krivelin were rallying from the back of the pack and they trotted by Dark Pool, and had a shot at us in the deep stretch,” Zuccarrello explained. “However, Stealing was up to the challenge and went on to a 1-1/2-length triumph over Crazycat.”

Dark Pool was third best.

Stealing is owned by Winners Circle Racing, John Campagnuolo and Latz A Luck Stable, and is trained by Dennis Laterza. Zuccarello scored his 16th driving victory this season and pushed his UDR over .550.