Freehold, NJ — As the saying goes, “when you’re hot you’re hot,” and it could easily be applied to talented amateur reinsman Tony Beltrami. Not only did he win the American Harness Drivers Club trot Saturday (Feb. 27) at Freehold Raceway with Broadway Bruiser but that victory came on the heels of a driving double Friday night at The Meadowlands.

After starting from the seven-hole Saturday, Beltrami was in no hurry to leave the gate and floated away near the back of the pack in seventh position as Labadee As (Tony Ciuffetelli) led the field by the first stanza in :29. When they headed to the halfway point Beltrami moved behind cover provided by Tony Verruso and Slated To Win and when the field headed to the three-quarters Slated To Win had collared the pacesetter, Labadee As. But the latter folded as the trotters rounded the final turn.

When the field headed for paydirt, Verruso braced for the late charge from Beltrami and Broadway Bruiser and as they headed down the lane John Calabrese moved Dark Pool off the pylons and they joined the leaders and the three trotters rallied toward the finish line just heads apart.

In a tight three-horse photo, Beltrami got Broadway Bruiser up in the final strides for a half-length triumph over the fast closing Dark Pool. Right there, but third best, just behind the top two, was Slated To Win.

Broadway Bruiser, a 6-year-old Muscle Mass gelding, is owned by Joseph Scanio, James Cosenza, Bart Fooden and H D S Stable. He is trained by Williams Hernandez. Sent away as third choice in the eight-horse field, Broadway Bruiser paid $11.40 for win.