Two trotting divisions of the American Harness Drivers Club Series went to post today (May 15) at Freehold Raceway and when the judges deemed each race official Tony Verruso and Mark Shullstrom each won their respective $9,000 divisions; Verruso with Slated To Win in 1:58 and Schullsrom with Inukchuk Chuck in 2:00.1.
In the first split Verruso sent Slated To Win to the lead from post two and they led the competition through the first stanza in :28.4. Despite being challenged Verruso was comfortable as he passed the half in :58.
Ooh Rah (John Calabrese) was the first to move off the pylons but he ran into road trouble behind some stalled trotters as the field headed for the three quarters. At the top of the lane Slated To Win was comfortable and was able to rebuff a late charge from Always A Good Time (Joe Faraldo) before bracing for Southwind Frost (Bob Hechkoff) who was enjoying a two-hole journey. In the stretch Slated To Win and Southwind Frost were heads apart all the way to the wire and after a long photo the judges posted Slated To Win a nose better than Southwind Frost. Ooh Rah hung on for the show dough.
“There was certainly a lot of action in the race and my horse was challenged the whole mile, And in the deep stretch I wasn't sure he'd hang on but gamely he did and we walked away with a victory,” Verruso said.
The winner, is owned by George Beck and trained by Symon Spicer. Sent off as the favourite he paid. $4.20 for win.
Verruso nearly had a driving double on the card but Masster Blue's late rally in the fourth race fell a head short at the wire. Inukchuk Chuck and driver Mark Schullstrom walked away with a scant victory in 2:00.1.
After starting from the pole position Schullstrom sent his trotter to the front and Inukchuk Chuck got away with soft early fractions of :30 and 1:01.2 before speeding up to rebuff a challenge from Joe Pennacchio and P C Foreign Affair. Inukchuk Chuck needed a :28.4 third panel to maintain command as Swipe Right (Chip Allen) kept the pressure on, but he faded as Masster Blue and Tony Verruso took up the chase. And chase they did all the way to the wire where a photo showed that Schullstrom's trotter was a half length better than Masster Blue. French Moni rallied from far back to finish third for Paul Minore.
Inukchuk Chuck is owned by his driver and trained by Dawn Anderson. He returned a $12.80 win mutuel.
(AHDC)