Freehold, NJ — Two $9,000 divisions of trotters in the AHDC Series went to post on Saturday (Dec. 18) at Freehold Raceway and after the judges declared them official Paul Minore and Tony Beltrami emerged victorious, Minore with Awol Hanover in 2:00.1 and Beltrami with Chief Justice in 1:59.

Awol Hanover came from off the pace to win a division of the AHDC Amateur Trot on Saturday. Vicki Wright Photo.

In the first split Minore bided his time with Awol Hanover traveling along in fourth place while Inukchuk Chuck (Mark Schullstrum) was challenging for the lead and was being rebuffed by Latoka ( Tony Beltrami) as the two leaders were side by side past the half in 1:00.2 and were still neck and neck by the three quarters.

But when they trotted into the final turn Latoka began to fade and as he did  Minore had Awol Hanover off the pylons and out to challenge. And when they rounded the final turn and headed for home Awol Hanover  was the strong horse  and went on to a length triumph in 2:00.1. Inukchuk Chuck  was second best while Jake Stillwell rallied  Dark Pool up for the show dough.

The winner is owned by Cliff Grundy and trained by McKensie Sowers. He paid $5.40 for win.

Two races later Tony Beltrami made amends and hustled Chief Justice home a solid winner in a 1:59 clocking over Shoemaker Hanover driven by John Calabrese.

In that contest Beltrami allowed Matt Zuccarello and Shared Interest A to take command but not for long as Beltrami retook the lead.and then braced for Shoemaker Hanover as Calabrese had him out and going as they trotted around the second turn and headed for the three quarters. At that point Chief Justice was in command and began to draw clear and had a three  length lead which he held all the way to the wire. Shoemaker Hanover held on for second money, a head better than Winneress (Tony Verruso).

Chief Justice is owned by the PT Stable and trained by Paul Fusco. Sent off as the odds-on favorite he paid  $3.60 for win.