A pair of pocket trips paved the paths to glory for drivers Yogi Sheridan and Anthony Verruso in their respective $9,000 divisions of the American Harness Drivers Club (AHDC) Trot at Freehold Raceway on Saturday afternoon (March 4).
Sheridan secured a two-hole trip for Lionhead in the first division, sitting behind tempo-setter Call Me Thefireman (driven by Anthony Verruso). Call Me Thefireman, after parking the mile last week, took the no-trouble route to the lead from his pylon post and carved a tepid clip of :30.3, 1:02 and 1:31.3. King Cast (Jim King Solomon) mounted a first-over challenge past the half with Natural Kemp (Tony Ciuffetelli) loosely following second over, but the soft speed kept the field even in the final-quarter sprint.
Call Me Thefireman spun for home on a 1-1/2-length lead, though began shortening in stride as odds-on favourite Lionhead took aim. Lionhead landed the winning blow in the final strides to score a three-quarter-length win in 2:01.3 with Call Me Thefireman clinging to second over fast-closing Dark Pool (Tony Beltrami).
Terry Morgan owns and trains Lionhead, a seven-year-old gelding by Uncle Peter. He paid $3.60 to win.
After having victory snatched in the first division, Anthony Verruso claimed revenge with Winneress, who dove to a neck victory as the 2-1 favourite in 2:00.
Winneress procured a stalking spot from the pylon post while Gruden (Terry Di Cicco) combatted Trump This (Tony Ciuffetelli), who pestered along the rim. The embattled duo clicked fractions of :28.1, :58 and 1:28.4, which poised Verruso and Winneress to strike in the tiring final quarter. And “The Air Bag” obliged, darting Winneress through the open stretch to snag the win from Gruden with All Rise (Tony Beltrami) rallying around Trump This for third and Finnick Odair (Melissa Arbia) closing for fourth.
Verruso owns Winneress, a nine-year-old gelding by Credit Winner trained by Symon Spicer. He paid $6 to win.
The AHDC returns to Freehold Raceway next Saturday (March 11). First-race post time is 12:30 p.m. (EST).
(AHDC)