Freehold, NJ — Tony Beltrami bolted from the backfield and John Calabrese led from pillar to post to take their respective $9,000 divisions of the American Harness Drivers Club Trot at Freehold Raceway on Saturday (April 6).
In the first division, Beltrami guided odds-on favorite Landia to an off-the-speed score in 2:00.4.
Beltrami landed in sixth with his charge and got underway along the rim after a :29.1 first quarter to follow cover from the long-parked Hammer Creek (James Slendorn). As Hammer Creek dug into tempo-setter Ss Tys Aflyin (Bob Hechkoff) through a 1:00.2 half, Beltrami readied to spring three wide and started to swoop the field at three-quarters in 1:31.1.
Once hitting the lead, Landia strode clear through the final turn and the stretch to win by 4-1/2 lengths at the beam. Spirit Of Success (Calabrese) tracked the winner’s rally to grab second with Awol Hanover (Steven Reisenweaver) securing third.
Donald Maiorano owns and trains Landia, a 5-year-old mare by Yankee Glide. She paid $3.80 to win.
Calabrese took control in the other division with Shoemaker Hanover and motored down the road to a 2:01 win.
Leaving from post three, Calabrese grabbed an easy lead with Shoemaker Hanover to a :29.2 first quarter and stayed resolute through the remainder. He waded a first-over push from Empereurthebest FR (Slendorn) through middle fractions of :59.3 and 1:30 with few other foes menacing.
Empereurthebest FR then lost stride spinning for home, leaving Shoemaker Hanover alone on the lead as he rolled to a 2-1/2 length win. My Big Kadillac (Mike Polansky) ripped home from off the speed for second with pocket-sitter Livingontherail (Anthony Verruso) finishing third.
Calabrese trains Shoemaker Hanover, an 11-year-old stallion by Cantab Hall, for his Calabrese Farms LLC along with Michelle Rickey. He paid $4.20 to win.
AHDC action resumes next Saturday (April 13) at Freehold Raceway. First-race post time is 12:30 p.m. (EDT).