Joe Lee pounced with Masster Blue and gained a positional edge through the last turn to survive and upset at 11-1 in the $9,000 American Harness Drivers Club (AHDC) Trot at Freehold Raceway on Saturday, Nov. 25.
Starting from post one, Lee settled into third while Trump This (driven by Neil Glasser) swooped from the outermost post for the lead through a :28.4 first quarter. Trump This grabbed control as Brownie (Mike Polansky) yielded through the second turn and glossed by the half in :58.4.
Trump This showed fatigue from his stiff early move up the backside and coasted on fumes to three-quarters while the field tightened and stacked. Lee managed to slide off the pylons with Masster Blue to three-quarters in 1:29.3 and cut inside of a three-wide charging Shoemaker Hanover (John Calabrese). The pair engaged while scooting clear of the field spinning for home and the inside advantage gave Masster Blue extra life in the closing strides as Shoemaker Hanover levelled off and reengaged, but missed by a neck in 1:59.4. Winneress (Anthony Verruso) closed from second over for third and Southwind Frost (Michael Fiumenero) finished fourth.
John Novello owns and trains Masster Blue, a nine-year-old gelding by Muscle Mass. He paid $24.40 to win.
AHDC action moves to Harrah’s Philadelphia on Sunday, Nov. 26 with a single $9,900 division for the AHDC Pace. The club’s Fall Trotting Series resumes with the 13th preliminary on Sunday, Dec. 3 at Harrah’s Philadelphia. First-race post time is 12:45 p.m. (EDT).
(AHDC)