Freehold, NJ — Joe Faraldo and Tony Beltrami each reined a winner in a split of the American Harness Drivers Club trotting series Saturday (April 24) at Freehold Raceway.

Faraldo guided Always A Good Time to a 1:57.1 victory over seven others in his split while Beltrami was victorious with Big Smoove in 2:00.1 in the other seven-horse division. Both were raced for a purse of $9,000.

Faraldo scored an easy victory with the 4-1 shot Always A Good Time. After getting away third he moved first-up as Bob Hechkoff showed the way as Pound Sterling got first call when he passed the quarter in :29.3.

“Just as soon as I saw Hechkoff grab leather I was out and moving with Always A Good Time and when we passed the half we were heads apart. We were still side-by-side by the three-quarters, but on the final turn Hechkoff’s trotter began to fade and my horse then got real brave and we cruised home an easy winner,” Faraldo said.

At the wire the margin of victory was six lengths as Joe Pennacchio hustled Keystone Blade home to be second. Masster Blue, the betting favorite, finished third for Tony Verruso.

The winner is owned by Triple D Stables and trained by Scott Di Domenico. He paid $10.40 for win.

In the first AHDC trot Beltrami took no prisoners and sent Big Smoove immediately to the front from post three and once on top he had an easy time of it.

Big Smoove showed the way by the first quarter in a soft :30.2 and was still in command as the Beltrami-driven trotter passed the half in 1:00.4. Then up the backside Southwind Frost (Hechkoff) and Swipe Right (John Calabrese) began to move from far back. But Presidente Zette (Faraldo) was still second best and he remained that way to the wire. Swipe Right beat out Southwind Frost for the show dough.

Big Smoove is owned by Joseph Scanio and Bart Fooden and is trained by Williams Hernandez. He returned a $17.20 win payoff.