Chester, PA — Lee Morris, Tony Beltrami and Cote Keim each collected wins at Harrah’s Philadelphia on Sunday (Dec. 29) in the last events for the American Harness Drivers Club in 2024.
Morris scored first in the lone division of the AHDC Pace with a pocket-pouncing effort by Tellitsabb in 1:55.
After taking the lead to a :27.1 first quarter, Morris yielded command to Speed Snip (Beltrami) and coasted in the trail as 9-5 favorite Its Showtime (Yogi Sheridan) moved first over to a :56.2 half. Its Showtime continued to press Speed Snip by three-quarters in 1:24.3 and fought to take the lead coming off the bottom corner. But Tellitsabb launched to the fore late with fresh legs to collar Its Showtime and slide away to a 1-1/4 length win with Six Feet Apart (Frank Tsipouras) closing from a second-over trip for third.
Morris trains Tellitsabb, an 8-year-old gelding by Tellitlikeitis, for owner Mindy Findling Repko. He paid $11.60 to win.
Beltrami delivered slight 2-1 favorite and lone sophomore in the field Honor Guard to a 1:58.1 score in the first division of the AHDC Trot.
Beltrami worked a front-stepping trip for his charge, clearing command to a :29.1 first quarter and wading a first-over push from Ima Standup Guy (Joe Faraldo) through middle fractions of :59.1 and 1:27.4. Despite getting headed off the final turn, Honor Guard reengaged and surged to a length win at the beam over Ima Standup Guy with Manuka (Robert Krivelin) taking third.
Juan Cano trains Honor Guard, a 3-year-old gelding by Father Patrick, for owner Jaypaul Hoover. He paid $6.40 to win.
Keim romped in the other division of the AHDC Trot with his pupil Velociraptor in a 1:56.3 mile.
Keim secured the point out of post seven to a :28 first quarter and after rebuffing an early challenge from Sir Jesse (Morris), widened his lead past a :58.3 half. Velociraptor continued peeling away through three-quarters in 1:27.3 and finished the mile six lengths better than pocket-chaser Puddin N Pie (Sheridan) in second. Big Nudge (Anthony Verruso) took third off a ground-saving trip.
Keim co-owns Velociraptor, a 4-year-old gelding by Father Patrick, with Vito Babino. He paid $8 to win.
With Harrah’s Philadelphia concluding its 2024 season on Tuesday (Dec. 31), AHDC action will be on hiatus until Spring 2025. Dates for club action will be released when available.