Wilkes-Barre, PA — Anthony Verruso and Tony Beltrami both vaulted from off the speed to win their respective $10,000 divisions of the American Harness Drivers Club (AHDC) trots on Saturday (Oct. 24) at Pocono Downs at Mohegan Pennsylvania as part of a weekend where a different driver scored in each division.
Verruso bagged the first division of the AHDC trots with 8-1 shot Southern Patricia in a 1:56.3 mile. Leaving from post 6, Verruso settled his charge into fifth as 1-2 chalk Massive Matter (driven by Tony Beltrami) fought to hold the lead from challenger Mamy Wata (Paul Minore) through a :28.2 first quarter. Massive Matter coasted to a :57.2 half and bore mild first-over pressure from 24-1 shot Ima Standup Guy (Joe Faraldo) coming to three-quarters in 1:26.3 while Verruso followed patiently up the inside. Southern Patricia pushed into the pocket spot rounding the last turn as Mamy Wata angled outside to attack, which gave Verruso clear sailing in the open stretch to take the shortest route to a three-quarter length victory. Massive Matter held off Mamy Wata for second while Velociraptor (Bob Krivelin) saved ground for fourth.
Danielle Dacruz trains Southern Patricia for owner Golden Gaits USO. The 6-year-old mare by Father Patrick-Winning Beauty paid $18.40 to win.
Tony Beltrami found the winner’s circle a few races later with a confident drive on 8-5 favorite Black Tie Bash to win the second AHDC trot in 1:57. Beltrami landed into sixth as Eyes Of Justice (Bob Hechkoff) hustled out of post 8 and spurted nearly six lengths clear of the competition passing a :27.4 first quarter. As the leader hit the brakes, Beltrami swung off the pegs and marched forward to grab a seat on Hechkoff’s helmet passing a :57.4 half. Black Tie Bash tracked Eyes Of Justice snugly to three-quarters in 1:27 and then inherited a golden seam rounding the last turn as Eyes Of Justice drifted off the pylons. Beltrami straightened his charge on the inside lane and surged clear to a 2-1/4-length victory chased by Cal Miles N Shell (John Calabrese), rallying from an inside trip for second. Love This Bar (Anthony Verruso) followed in third and Certify (Mike Polansky) took fourth.
Dean Eckley trains Black Tie Bash for owner William Hartt. The 8-year-old Chapter Seven-Daylon Mermaid gelding paid $5.20 to win.
Yogi Sheridan then nabbed a victory in the first of two $8,500 AHDC pace events at Harrah’s Philadelphia on Sunday (Oct. 25) when he guided odds-on chalk Aintbluenomore to a pillar-to-post win in 1:52.3. Sheridan cleared command past a :27.4 first quarter and sailed under minor pressure from parked Watch U R Back (Anthony Verruso) through middle fractions of :56.2 and 1:23.3. Aintbluenomore maintained momentum through the last turn and down the stretch to register a two-length win with Duck Into The Nite (Geovany Hernandez) rallying from a ground-saving trip for second. Pocket-sitter Dunsan Harry (Tony Beltrami) gave way for third and Sunshine’s Finest (William Clark Jr.) also saved ground to take fourth.
Izzy Estrada trains Aintbluenomore for owner Estrada Racing LLC. The 5-year-old gelding by Heston Blue Chip-Jenna’s Delight paid $3.40 to win.
Hernandez romped following his defeat in the first division when piloting 6-5 favorite Morrone Dolce to a 1:55 victory in the second AHDC pace. After pushing past early leader San Jose (Tony Beltrami) through a :27 first quarter, Hernandez stayed on the pedal and expanded his lead through a :55.3 half and to three-quarters in 1:24.2. He opened an insurmountable cushion capped at 6-3/4 lengths when he crossed the line first with San Jose giving pursuit from second while Hold My Tiara (Anthony Verruso) rallied for third and Grateful Kiss (Matt Zucarrello) gave chase in fourth.
Allie Reynolds trains Morrone Dolce for owner Howard Slotoroff. The 4-year-old gelding by Tall Dark Stranger-Attention Hanover paid $4.40 to win.
AHDC action resumes with trotting divisions next Saturday (Oct. 31) at Pocono Downs. First-race post time is 1 p.m. (EDT).