Monticello, NY — When Joe Pennacchio’s trotter, Keystone Blade, drew the eight hole in the NAADA trot Thursday (April 8) at Monticello Raceway he wasn’t discouraged. After all, Keystone Blade had gone wire-to-wire in 1:58 against similar company two weeks ago at Yonkers Raceway.

So in the amateur trot Thursday afternoon, Pennacchio sent his veteran trotter toward the front when the wings of the mobile gate folded and they ranged alongside the pacesetter Pound Sterling (Bob Hechkoff) as they trotted to the first quarter in a swift :28.4.

“When I ranged alongside Hechkoff I could see he wasn’t going to let me go, so I grabbed leather and backed my horse into the two-hole,” Pennacchio said. ”And once settled in I just followed the leader for a ways.”

Hechkoff kept the pedal to the metal and showed the way by the half in :59 with Pennacchio’s trotter tight on his back.

“When we headed up the backside for the second time I moved off the pylons as the trailing horses were beginning to rally and I didn’t want to get locked-in,” Pennacchio explained.

Keystone Blade was moving forward but Pound Sterling still had command when they trotted into the final turn. And when they straightened for home it was all Keystone Blade as the veteran 8-year-old Yankee Glide gelding began to draw off and went on to a 2-3/4 length triumph in 1:59.2. Alan Schwartz, who was following the leaders throughout with Ladys Big Stormont, got his trotter up in the final strides to collar Pound Sterling for the place money.

Maybe it was the eight-hole or perhaps Pennachio’s first Mighty M start this season, but for whatever reason the betting public sent Keystone Blade away at odds of 50-1. Those who believed were rewarded with across the board mutuels of $102.00, $47.00 and $18.00.