Wilkes-Barre, PA — Tony Beltrami blew away his rivals in the $10,000 American Harness Drivers Club (AHDC) Trot while Geovany Hernandez scored in the following race with a pillar-to-post effort to win the $10,000 AHDC Pace on Saturday (Oct. 3) at Pocono Downs.
Beltrami delivered odds-on favorite Call Option to a 1:54.1 victory by open lengths. After settling into fourth through a :28 first quarter, Beltrami readied to brush towards tempo-setter Empire Builder (driven by Joe Lee) and launched his attack heading to a :56.2 half. Call Option cleared control in the backstretch and cruised by three-quarters in 1:25.1 before widening his lead coming for home. He continued pulling away in the lane until he reached the beam nine lengths better than 20-1 shot Southern Patricia (Anthony Verruso), who raced second. Pocket-sitter Crystal Fashion (Yogi Sheridan) finished third and Empire Builder tired to fourth.
Deborah Daguet trains Call Option for owner Tony Beltrami. The 5-year-old gelding by Greenshoe-Nothing But Moni paid $3.40 to win.
Hernandez succeeded on a speed mission in the AHDC Pace to win with Master Miki in a 1:53.4 mile. Hernandez took the top while parking challenger Major Ace (Jacob Fox) to a :27.2 first quarter, and he kept Major Ace hung uncovered while the tempo stayed steady to a :55.2 half. Major Ace faltered in the backstretch, leaving Master Miki uncontested to three-quarters in 1:24.4, and then Hernandez’s charge had enough left in the stretch to stave off pocket-rallying Roma Amor (John Calabrese) by a half length. Hot Cam (Lee) followed in third and Marshall Zhukov (Neil Glasser) finished fourth.
Hernandez owns and trains Master Miki. The 8-year-old gelding by Always B Miki-Mastery Blue Chip paid $6.60 to win.
AHDC action resumes with trotting divisions at Pocono Downs on Saturday (Oct. 10) and pacing divisions at Harrah’s Philadelphia on Sunday (Oct. 11). First-race post time at Pocono is 1 p.m. (EDT) and 12:45 p.m. at Harrah’s Philadelphia.