Yonkers, NY — 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 Pool’s prowess, as the veteran gelding has recently won races with two different amateur drivers.

A month ago, Dark Pool gave 16-year-old Brett Beckwith his first pari-mutuel win. More recently, the veteran trotter reeled off two consecutive victories in rein to Annie Stoebe.

But in the Independence Day (July 4) North American Amateur Drivers Association Trot at Yonkers Raceway, Stoebe was traded for Beckwith, and the 6-year-old Cantab Hall gelding didn’t miss a beat, trotting to a wire-to-wire 1:57.1 triumph for owner-trainer Paul Fusco.

Having the pole position was certainly an asset, and a :28.1 first quarter made a statement that Dark Pool was there for action. Once on top, Beckwith kept the pedal to the metal and they trotted through fractions of :58.2 and 1:27.4 to lead Tough Get Going and driver Tony Verruso all the way to the wire before finishing 1-3/4 lengths to the good. Third place in the eight-horse field went to Cheeky Little Miss, driven by 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.