John Calabrese overhauled his competitors and Tony Beltrami threw the hammer down early to take their respective divisions of the $9,000 American Harness Drivers Club (AHDC) Trot at Freehold Raceway on Saturday (April 22).

Calabrese floated away fourth with Brownie while Big Sky Sumo (driven by Jim King Solomon) led the field by a :29 first quarter. Big Sky Sumo broke stride as Calabrese pulled off the pegs with Brownie to a :59.2 half and swooped to seize the lead.

Brownie grabbed command from pocket-sitter Masster Blue (Anthony Verruso) up the backstretch and extended to a two-length lead past three-quarters in 1:29.2. His advantage only widened in the lane and he crossed the beam 5-1/4 lengths better than Masster Blue with King Cast (Yogi Sheridan) sitting a pylon trip for third and My Big Kadillac (Mike Polansky) taking fourth. The mile time was 1:59.2.

Pierre Paradis conditions Brownie, a seven-year-old Muscles Yankee gelding, for breeder-owner Daniel Dube. He paid $10.80 to win.

In the other AHDC Trot, Tony Beltrami barreled to the top from post seven with All Rise (pictured above) and took control past a :28.3 first quarter from Call Me Thefireman (Anthony Verruso). All Rise then withstood a first-over push from 2-5 favourite Lionhead (Yogi Sheridan) through a :59 half and to three-quarters in 1:28.4. Lionhead continued digging into All Rise through the lane, but the tempo setter held firm and wrapped the mile in 1:59.3 and 1-1/2 lengths to the good. Spunkinsrocketman (John Calabrese) finished third and Big Sky Ex (Jim King Solomon) closed for fourth.

Ed Quevedo trains All Rise, a six-year-old Conway Hall gelding, for his owner / driver. He paid $25.20 to win.

AHDC action returns to Freehold Raceway next Friday (April 28) with the $9,000 AHDC Pace. First-race post time at Freehold is 12:30 p.m. (EDT).

In its pursuit to give back to the sport its participants love, the AHDC presented a donation for racehorse aftercare following the seventh race.

The AHDC is a club for amateur harness racing drivers. As amateurs, the drivers donate their five-percent share of purse winnings towards charities like New Vocations and others either within harness racing or which serve the local community.

AHDC President Anthony Verruso led a winner’s circle presentation of $2,000 to New Vocations, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit focused on giving second homes to retired Standardbreds, Thoroughbreds and other breeds of horse.

“The AHDC is proud to help support the relocation of racehorses after their racing careers are over,” said Anthony Verruso. “We would not be here if not for these horses. As participants of this sport, we are committed to giving back to racing and the local community.”

(AHDC)