James Slendorn hit the accelerator and Jim King Solomon swooped the field to take their respective $9,000 divisions of the American Harness Drivers Club (AHDC) Trots at Freehold Raceway on Saturday afternoon (April 15).
In the first division, James Slendorn pushed from the pylons with odds-on choice Willy Walton and kept all his peers behind. Posting a :28.1 first quarter, he pocketed King Cast (Jacob Stillwell) and snagged a breather to a :58 half. With the tempo slowed, Lionhead (Yogi Sheridan) pulled first over with Shoemaker Hanover (John Calabrese) following cover, but Willy Walton slipped away to three-quarters in 1:27.1 and widened for home. Willy Walton crossed the beam five lengths in front at the end of a 1:56.4 mile with Lionhead taking second, Shoemaker Hanover securing third and Winneress (Anthony Verruso) closing for fourth.
Chris Height conditions Willy Walton, a nine-year-old gelding by CR Royal Flush, for owner James Slendorn. He paid $3.40 to win.
Jim King Solomon launched a stretch assault with Big Sky Ex to nab victory in the other division in 1:59.2.
Leaving from post six, Big Sky Ex floated away seventh while Finnick Odair (Melissa Arbia) powered to lead to a :29.2 first quarter. Turbochargedpete (Joe Faraldo) raced parked in midfield and progressed uncovered along the rim to apply minor pressure to the pacesetter through a 1:00.3 half while also supplying cover to Big Sky Ex.
The wide trip began wearing on Turbochargedpete up the backside as he stalled first over, forcing Solomon to launch Big Sky Ex three-wide to three-quarters, timed in 1:30.2. Big Sky Ex gathered momentum and barreled into the stretch to snag the lead from Finnick Odair and extend to a length win with Midnight Cookie (Paul Minore) another four lengths behind in third and CHF Merodona (Jacob Stillwell) faltering off a pocket trip to finish fourth.
Dennis Watson conditions Big Sky Ex, a seven-year-old mare by CR Excalibur, for owner Domenico Costagliola. She paid $18.60 to win.
AHDC action returns to Freehold Raceway on Friday, April 21 with divisions for the AHDC Pace. First-race post time at Freehold is 12:30 p.m. (EDT).
(AHDC)