Freehold, NJ — Anthony Verruso utilized the pylon post to full advantage with Call Me Thefireman, but Mike Polansky equally capitalized from a pocket trip with My Big Kadillac. The two struck the beam inseparable, crowning both with the top prize in the $15,000 American Harness Drivers Club Trot final at Freehold Raceway on Saturday (May 25).

Anthony Verruso (outside) with Call Me Thefireman and My Big Kadillac (inside) with Mike Polansky finished first in a dead-heat in the $15,000 AHDC Trot final. Vicki Wright/World Wide Racing Photos.

Verruso hustled Call Me Thefireman to the fore as My Big Kadillac secured the seat behind the leader and 2-1 favorite Lionhead (Yogi Sheridan) ducked into third. Call Me Thefireman carved a :29 first quarter and coasted towards the stands and through a :59.4 half, where Lionhead launched his bid on the rim to dig into the tempo-setter. Lionhead inched closer to Call Me Thefireman’s throat moving to three-quarters in 1:29 but plateaued off the final turn.

Call Me Thefireman stayed head honcho spinning for home with one more foe with ammo in the holster. My Big Kadillac, off a ground-saving trip, had room through the open stretch to dive in and make a final-ditch push for the lead. Verruso and Call Me Thefireman stayed game after cutting the mile but My Big Kadillac thrusted forward in the closing stages of the 1:59.1 mile to leave victory for the camera to decide. But the camera showed the two hit the finish virtually together, giving both a dead-heat win. Lionhead finished third, beaten a length.

The dead-heat by Call Me Thefireman and My Big Kadillac was the only one for win through the whole Winter-Spring Series at Freehold.

Symon Spicer trains Call Me Thefireman, an 8-year-old gelding by Wishing Stone, for Verruso while Polansky owns and trains My Big Kadillac, a 10-year-old Kadabra gelding. Call Me Thefireman paid $5.40 to win and My Big Kadillac returned $16.40.

Pearly Allen vaulted to victory with Zlatan in the $9,000 AHDC consolation, run in memory of Freehold’s longtime and incomparable voice: Larry Lederman.

Allen floated off the gate to sit behind a battle between All Rise (Tony Beltrami) and Spirit Of Success (John Calabrese) to a :28.2 first quarter. Dust settled when All Rise crossed to the controls and plodded towards a :58.4 half with a mild first-over threat looming from Drazzmatazz (Sheridan).

All Rise continued resolute on the point to three-quarters in 1:29.3 and held firm through the final turn as Spirit Of Success vacated the pocket. With a gap and then the open stretch approaching, Allen engaged with Zlatan, cut the corner and zipped through the inside lane to overhaul All Rise and win going away by 1-3/4 lengths in a 2:00.2 mile. All Rise settled for second while Spirit Of Success levelled off in third.

Paul Fusco trains Zlatan, an 11-year-old gelding by Muscle Mass, for owner ATA Racing. He paid $17.60 to win.

With the Freehold season wrapping on Saturday, AHDC action will resume in 2024 with dates for a summer series still to be announced.