James Slendorn and Anthony Verruso took their competitors pillar to post in their respective $10,417 divisions of the American Harness Drivers Club (AHDC) for trotters at Freehold Raceway on Saturday, Nov. 23.

Slendorn stormed away in the first division to a 1:59.1 win behind Beacon Beach as the 2-5 favourite. Taking command out of post six to a :28.2 first quarter, Slendorn opened his lead on 43-1 shot Showme Some Muscle (Jacob Stillwell) to a :58 half and cruised to three-quarters in 1:28.1. Beacon Beach drew farther clear from his foes spinning for home and registered a 6-3/4-length win at the beam over Showme Some Muscle. Lionhead (Yogi Sheridan) gave chase from third.

Joe Bongiorno trains Beacon Beach, a four-year-old gelding by Resolve, for owner El Dorado Stables. The trotter paid $2.60 to win.

Verruso waded all foes in the second division to post a 2:04.1 win with his own trotter, Call Me Thefireman. Verruso cleared to the point before a :31.1 first quarter and pocketed early challenger Lil Day Drinkin (Mickey Goldin). Passing the half in 1:02.2, Verruso soon had further pressure to face as Fashion Forever (Dawn Anderson) marched up the rim and reached within a length of the leader at three-quarters in 1:33.1. Fashion Forever dug deeper into Call Me Thefireman through the turn, but Verruso’s charge slid away in the stretch and scooted to a 1-1/4-length win. Fashion Forever held second with Landia (Mike Polansky) closing for third and Gatsby (Steven Reisenweaver), the 6-5 favourite, riding the pylons for fourth.

Veronica Spicer trains Call Me Thefireman, an eight-year-old gelding by Wishing Stone who paid $5 to win.

AHDC action resumes at Freehold Raceway next Saturday, Nov. 30. First-race post time at Freehold is 12:30 p.m.

(AHDC)