Chester, PA – Anthony Verruso found the winner’s circle twice and Geovany Hernandez later romped in American Harness Drivers Club (AHDC) action at Harrah’s Philadelphia on Sunday (Dec. 7).
Verruso notched a 1:58 win with 1-5 favorite Big Limo in the lone $7,500 AHDC trot. After clearing command from a three-wide push into a :28.1 first quarter, Big Limo cruised along on a comfortable lead through middle fractions of :57.2 and 1:26.2. He coasted in for a confident score by 2-3/4 lengths with Big Charlie Moran (driven by Tony Beltrami) rallying for second. My Big Kadillac (Mike Polansky) grabbed third, another six lengths behind, while pocket-sitter Big Nudge (Dante Scattolini) tired to fourth.
Veronica Spicer trains Big Limo, a 5-year-old gelding by What The Hill, for owner Peter Kleinhans. He paid $2.40 to win.
A few races later, Verruso delivered a longer-priced shot when landing Iammrbrightside N on the line first in a 1:58.2 mile in the first of two AHDC pacing divisions. Verruso found a seat in third as 9-5 favorite Drinkin Again (Geovany Hernandez) surged to take the lead from Lenda Hand Man (Matt Zuccarello). Drinkin Again steadied the tempo to a :57.1 half, after which Verruso lifted Iammrbrightside N into a first-over attack. Iammrbrightside N drew to equal terms with Drinkin Again through three-quarters in 1:26.2 and persisted on the rim through the last quarter mile to hit the finish a winner by a length. Lenda Hand Man took second with Thndrfrmthethron N (Tony Beltrami) rallying from second-over for third and Bettor Be Oscar A (Dante Scattolini) closing for fourth.
Veronica Spicer trains Iammrbrightside N, a 15-year-old stallion by Julius Caesar, for owner Anthony Verruso. He paid $17.40 to win.
Geovany Hernandez rebounded in the final AHDC division after troubled trips in the other two splits when he trounced his competition with 4-5 favorite Lew Hauber in the second pacing split with a 1:55 mile. He launched immediately for the front, opening a three-length lead in a :27 first quarter, and continued on a speed mission that only widened his advantage. After a :55.3 half, Lew Hauber peeled 10-lengths clear of his rivals and clocked three-quarters in 1:24 to then finish in hand. A Stud Named Sam (Tony Beltrami) closed for second, beaten 12 lengths, with Bungalow Bill N (Philip Kozak) rallying for third and Try Line (Charles Longo) closing from last for fourth.
Hernandez owns and trains Lew Hauber, a 3-year-old gelding by Sweet Lou. He paid $3.60 to win.
AHDC action resumes at Harrah’s Philadelphia on Sunday (Dec. 14) with pacing and trotting divisions scheduled. First-race post time at Harrah’s Philadelphia is 12:40 p.m. (EST).