Wilkes-Barre, PA — Herve Filion once said the shortest way around the track was along the rail. On Sunday (Sept. 12) Winneress and owner/driver Anthony Verruso took his advice, never leaving the rail and then using the passing lane to get up for a 1-1/2 length victory in 1:58.3 at The Downs at Mohegan Sun Pocono.

As usual, it was a hotly contested start in the AHDC trot with Melissa Arbia’s charge Swancredit clearing Fashion Possessed and Tony Beltrami just past the quarter pole in :28.3. Last week’s winner Muay Hanover, guided by Robert Krivelin, was right off Swancredit’s back and surged to the front heading past the grandstand for the first time. That unfortunately left Gemini Eddie with Joe Faraldo parked on the outside with no cover past the half in :58.

Making their way up the back, Krivelin tried to separate himself from the field. As Faraldo’s horse started to tire, Zooming and Steve Oldford began a three wide bid near the three-quarter pole just as Fashion Possessed edged his way off the rail.

Sensing him coming, Arbia slid out of the pocket, leaving the inside wide open to Winneress and Verruso who was sitting fourth on the rail with a quarter-mile left. They pulled right up to the leader’s back and at the top of the stretch, Verruso guided the favorite down into the passing lane and cleared the field to victory. Muay Hanover, who led most of the way, held on for second with Zooming getting up for a fast closing third.

For Winneress, it was his sixth win in 25 starts this year and for Anthony Verruso, it was his 16th win in just 47 starts in 2021. Winneress did go off the favorite and paid $3.00 to win.

The AHDC will switch to Saturday at Pocono next week, so check them out that day for more exciting amateur action.