Freehold, NJ — Tony Beltrami led for every step and withstood late pushes from rivals in the closing strides to take the $9,000 American Harness Drivers Club (AHDC) Trot at Freehold Raceway on Saturday (March 17).

Leaving from post six, Beltrami bolted his charge La Magic for the front while Brownie (driven by James Slendorn) settled for the pocket to a :29.3 first quarter. Turbochargedpete (Joe Faraldo) found a seat at the pegs in third to the second turn as Awol Hanover (Steven Reisenweaver) swung to the outside and raced uncovered into a 1:00.2 half.

But Awol Hanover made little progress along the rim up the backside, leaving La Magic to scamper to a wider uncontested lead to three-quarters in 1:30.3 with the backfield stacking. La Magic shortened stride spinning for home and the ground savers laid late siege.

Turbochargedpete swung widest for the drive but missed collaring La Magic at the beam by a neck while Brownie finished between horses in third, beaten three-quarter lengths in a 2:01 mile. Train (Paul Minore) slipped off a pylon trip to take fourth.

Edwin Quevedo trains La Magic, an 8-year-old gelding by Kadabra, for owners David Dobbelmann and Triple Q Stables LLC. Off the post-time favorite, he paid $5.40 to win.

AHDC action resumes at Freehold Raceway next Saturday (March 23). First-race post time at Freehold is 12:30 p.m. (EDT).