Monticello, NY — Two different events for amateur drivers were featured on the eight-race card at Monticello Raceway on Thursday afternoon (Aug. 8). When the judges declared each official, Tony “the Capo” Verruso was victorious with Six Bax in a 1:58.4 mile in the Billings Trot, while Paul Minore copped the NAADA Trot with Warrawee Preferred in 1:59.4.

The local colony at the Mighty M is always very cooperative in helping to fill these amateur races and today was no exception. And strangely, local horseman Gary Messenger trained both winners and both happened to be owned by Dr. Scott Woogen, an owner of many Standardbreds as well as being an accomplished amateur driver.

In the Billings Trot, Verruso sent Six Bax immediately to the lead from post two and they led their competitors by the first stanza in a swift :28.3 while parking out favorite Someway Same Hall (Tony Ciuffetelli, Jr.). With Six Bax along the pylons and Someway Same Hall on the limb, they trotted by the half in :57.4.

Up the backside, Someway Same Hall tired and “Joltin’ Joe” Pennacchio hustled Super Manning up alongside Six Bax, and they raced as a team around the final turn.

“My horse was rough in the turns and Pennacchio kept the pressure on us. But once we straightened for home, Six Bax flattened out and we opened a short lead which held all the way to the wire,” Verruso explained.

At the wire, Six Bax was a length winner over Pennacchio’s trotter. Tough Get Goings garnered the show dough for “Smokin’ Joe” Faraldo. Six Bax paid $5.80.

In the NAADA Trot, Minore started from post two and Warrawee Preffered had an exceptionally easy two-hole journey while following Joe Pennacchio and Cheeky Little Miss.

They raced one-two all the way to the top of the stretch, where Minore angled his trotter out to challenge the leader. In deep stretch, Warrawee Preferred went on to an easy one-length victory.

“I was little more than as passenger as my horse, an 8-year-old, knew just what to do when we followed the leader to the top of the lane,” Minore said. “And when I moved him out to challenge, he trotted around the leader and away to an easy victory.”

Monica Banca finished third with Master of Excuses.

Sent off as the odds-on favorite, Warrawee Preferred paid $3.80.