Pompano Beach, FL…February 11, 2020…Harness racing driver Joe Pennacchio will be representing the United States in the World Amateur Cup 2020, which will be held at Pompano Park beginning February 22.
Pennacchio earned the honor to represent the U.S.A. on Monday night at the South Florida oval by piloting the Walter La Freniere, Jr. trainee B R Flying Dali to victory in the World Cup qualifier. Owned by William H. Mc Elvain, Jr., the eight year-old son of Dali covered his mile in 1:55.4, just getting up over the Dein Spriggs driven Firewater Jake.
It was a rare win for Pennacchio–not in numbers, per se, but for the fact that he was making a rare appearance back driving a pacer.
Pennacchio has been a stalwart member of the Florida Amateur Driving Club for many years and all starts for that club are for trotters.
"Yes," Pennacchio lamented, "it's rare that any of our amateur drivers get behind a pacer, so this win was extra special, to say the least."
Pennacchio now has 186 career wins with his first one dating back to 1995 at Delaware, Ohio with Fox Valley Trump.
He has competed with regularity on the European circuit and was USHWA Amateur Driver of the Year in 2019.
In last night's event, Pennacchio was competing against a stellar group of amateur drivers including four others who won USHWA's Amateur Driver of the Year Award–Steve Oldford, Robert Krivelin, Dein Spriggs and Hannah Miller, all of whom have represented the U.S. in world competition.
Pennacchio hopes to become the first driver from the U.S. to win the elite competition saying, "I am sure that this will be a highly competitive event with the best of the best vying for supremacy. I just hope to compete safely and honorably for our country."
by John Berry