Freehold, NJ – It was an Italian-American pride day at Freehold on Saturday (Jan. 21). Tony Beltrami and Joe Faraldo each won a heat of the AHDC Amateur trot club.

Tony Beltrami and All Rise won the first of two AHDC races at Freehold Raceway Saturday. World Wide Racing Photos.

In the first heat, there was a lot of early action with Spree guided by Dante Scattolini leaving hard and making First Gunner with Robert Hechkoff work extremely hard to get the lead in a fast :28:3 quarter. All Rise, who also left and briefly tucked third, wanted the lead, so Tony Beltrami sent his charge out and motoring entering the second turn clearing the leg weary leader just past the half, which went in :59.1.

The duo opened up a good eight lengths on the field going up the backside and they needed all of it as Finnick Odair with Melissa Arbia followed their bold move while Winneress, who won a leg of the series last week, mounted a furious late rush from behind all of them to be second, losing by only a length. Finnick Odair got third.

All Rise, a 6-year-old Conway Hall gelding, is owned by Tony Beltrami and trained by Edwin Quevedo. Sent off as odds on favorite, he returned $3.40 on the win end.

Joe Faraldo went gate to wire with Grafenberg to capture the second of two AHCC races Saturday at Freehold Raceway. World Wide Racing Photos.

In the second heat, Joe Faraldo wasted no time fooling around and sent his trusty steed Grafenberg to the lead. Clearing King Cast with Jim King Solomon pretty easily, Faraldo was able to rate a friendly opening half mile of 1:01:3. Sensing pressure from Mouthpiece and Jacob Stillwell, Faraldo pressed on the gas putting away that first over bid and had plenty left to hold off t he fast-closing favorite Dark Pool with Tony Beltrami. King Cast held on for the show prize.

Grafenberg, a 5-year-old Triumphant Caviar gelding, is owned by Triple D Stables and trained by Scott DiDomenico. The gelding sent his backers home with a hefty payout to close the afternoon card returning $25 to win.

There will be two more AHDC races next Saturday (Jan. 28) at Freehold.