Anthony Verruso vaulted from off the speed and Jim King Solomon fired down the highway with their respective mounts to take a pair of dashes of the $9,900 American Harness Drivers Club (AHDC) Pace at Harrah’s Philadelphia on Sunday (Oct. 2).
In the first division, Verruso got away sixth with Rockabilly Charm as 2-1 favourite Its Showtime (Juan Cano) cleared control from Carlas Mach A (Yogi Sheridan) past a :26.4 first quarter. Sheridan then circled Carlas Mach A back to the lead as Big Bad Bill (Tony Beltrami) loomed along the rim and soon found himself parked right alongside the pacesetter through a :56.1 half and three-quarters in 1:26.3.
All the while, Verruso slipped Rockabilly Charm off the cones from the back and with fresh legs charged by his competition to snag a 1-1/4-length win in 1:57.3 over Its Showtime as he dashed off a pocket ride for second. All In Jest (Adrian Wisher Jr.) rallied from second over for third and Tigers Way (Frank Tsipouras) took fourth.
Victoria D’Alessandro trains and owns Rockabilly Charm, an eight-year-old gelding by Rock N Roll Heaven. Off as the fifth choice in the betting, he paid $17 to win.
Solomon bolted to the top with Bionic and bottomed out his rivals to win the other division in 1:54.4. Bionic landed on the point out of post five and clicked a :28 first quarter with Cheyenne Ryan Lee (Wyatt Long) in the pocket. Though he slowed the tempo to a :57.1 half, Bionic built a cushy lead of more than three lengths to the backside as he sped to three-quarters in 1:25.1 and stayed clear of his foes through the lane. Rock On Line (Anthony Verruso) rallied by tired rivals to grab second, beaten two lengths, with Cheyenne Ryan Lee settling for third and Baanke Sea (Juan Cano) finishing fourth.
Michael Shults conditions Bionic, a five-year-old gelding by Always B Miki, for owner Blazer One Racing. Sent off as the 7-5 favourite, he paid $4.80 to win.
AHDC action continues with the fourth leg of the Fall Trotting Series at Freehold Raceway on Saturday (Oct. 7). The Fall Trotting Series continues through to Dec. 31 when a $15,000 final will be contested at Harrah’s Philadelphia.
(AHDC)