by John Manzi, for the Delvin Miller Amateur Drivers Association
Monticello, NY — There was plenty of Billings action this past weekend with two races each at Charlottetown Raceway and Summerside Raceway on Prince Edward Island in the Canadian Maritimes and one trotting contest at Vernon Downs.
Four races in total — two on Saturday and two on Sunday — were contested on PEI over the weekend and when they were finalized “Joltin’ Joe” Pennacchio shined, having won a pair at Summerside Raceway on Sunday afternoon (September 11).
Pennacchio, a retired CEO, showed superb talent when winning his two pacing events at Summerside Raceway. His first victory was behind 9-2 shot Kaitlyn Rose with a two hole pocket trip to defeat Nothingbutbluesky and driver “Racin’ Jason” Sgrignuoli in a time of 2:01.3. Third place went to Hal “Smiley” Edwards behind the pacesetter Smart Barney.
Pennacchio came right back in the next Billings contest to register his driving double. After moving first-up at the half, his pacer Hooters Hanover, sent off at odds of over 6-1, finally wore down the leader, Airborne Bomber, driven by Steve “You’re Never Too” Oldford, to score a 2:02.4 victory. Again, “Smiley” Edwards took home the show dough, this time with Sybil.
For Pennacchio, who’s enjoying perhaps his best season in amateur competition, his two wins ran his lifetime victory total to 120 and he now has seven wins, 10 seconds and eight thirds and a .346 UDR in 44 starts this year.
But a day prior at Charlottetown Raceway, “Racin’ Jason” Sgrinuoli, an electrician from Dorval, Que., won his first Billings race of the season when he guided 11-1 shot Viewer Discretion to victory in 2:00.4. Second place went to Thane Arsenault who handled Now Who’s Laughing. Arsenault was a fill-in for the absent “Gentleman Jamie” Marra. “Howie the Horse” Gelfand picked up the show points when he finished third with Shalom Cooper.
In the second Billings pace on Saturday, Steve “You’re Never Too” Oldford, an automotive manufacturers rep from Croswell, Michigan, drove favored Rebelryan to a come-from-behind, 2:02 triumph over Artiste Duharas and driver Peter “the Past President” Gerry. Thane Arsenault was third best with Artners In Crime.
Also on September 10, at Vernon Downs in upstate New York, the oldest driver and the youngest driver in Billings competition this season locked horns. When the contest was decided, 17-year-old “Schoolboy Joe” Bongiorno, behind Bo Diddley N, defeated 79-year-old Lon “Deli Boy” Frocione, who drove Saver, in the non-wagering trot prior to the betting card getting underway that evening. The winning time was 2:01.3. Havey “Doc” Stein took home the show dough in that one with Make It Hot.
For the “Schoolboy,” who plans on turning professional upon his 18th birthday on September 23, it marked his 11th lifetime win — in just 29 starts — which is 179 fewer than Frocione has recorded in his prolific amateur driving career.
Billings action continues Tuesday night (September 13), with two $6,000 Billings trots slated at 6 p.m. and 6:15 p.m. at Yonkers Raceway before the betting card gets underway.