Anthony Verruso utilized the pylon post to full advantage with Call Me Thefireman, but Mike Polansky equally capitalized from a pocket trip with My Big Kadillac. The two struck the beam inseparable, crowning both with the top prize in the $20,548 American Harness Drivers Club (AHDC) trotting series final at Freehold Raceway on Saturday, May 25.
Verruso hustled Call Me Thefireman to the fore as My Big Kadillac secured the seat behind the leader and 2-1 favourite Lionhead (Yogi Sheridan) ducked into third. Call Me Thefireman carved a :29 first quarter and coasted towards the stands and through a :59.4 half, where Lionhead launched his bid on the rim to dig into the tempo-setter. Lionhead inched closer to Call Me Thefireman’s throat moving to three-quarters in 1:29 but plateaued off the final turn.
Call Me Thefireman stayed head honcho spinning for home with one more foe with ammo in the holster. My Big Kadillac, off a ground-saving trip, had room through the open stretch to dive in and make a final-ditch push for the lead. Verruso and Call Me Thefireman stayed game after cutting the mile but My Big Kadillac thrusted forward in the closing stages of the 1:59.1 mile to leave victory for the camera to decide. But the camera showed the two hit the finish virtually together, giving both a dead-heat win. Lionhead finished third, beaten a length, with Empereurthebest FR (James Slendorn) taking fourth.
The dead-heat by Call Me Thefireman and My Big Kadillac was the only one for win through the whole Winter-Spring Series at Freehold. Symon Spicer trains Call Me Thefireman, an eight-year-old gelding by Wishing Stone, for Verruso while Polansky owns and trains My Big Kadillac, a 10-year-old Kadabra gelding. Call Me Thefireman paid $5.40 to win and My Big Kadillac returned $16.40.
Pearly Allen vaulted to victory with Zlatan in the $12,329 AHDC consolation, run in memory of Freehold’s longtime and incomparable voice: Larry Lederman.
Allen floated off the gate to sit behind a battle between All Rise (Tony Beltrami) and Spirit Of Success (John Calabrese) to a :28.2 first quarter. Dust settled when All Rise crossed to the controls and plodded towards a :58.4 half with a mild first-over threat looming from Drazzmatazz (Yogi Sheridan). All Rise continued resolute on the point to three-quarters in 1:29.3 and held firm through the final turn as Spirit Of Success vacated pocket. With a gap and then the open stretch approaching, Allen engaged with Zlatan, cut the corner and zipped through the inside lane to overhaul All Rise and win going away by 1-3/4 lengths in a 2:00.2 mile. All Rise settled for second while Spirit Of Success levelled off in third and Starlitcresentroll (James Slendorn) rallied from second over for fourth.
Paul Fusco trains Zlatan, an 11-year-old gelding by Muscle Mass, for owner ATA Racing LLC. He paid $17.60 to win.
Following a long and competitive winter-spring season for the AHDC, the amateur driving organization made a sizable donation for a local charity serving to provide homes for the unhoused.
AHDC President Anthony Verruso led the presentation of a $2,740 donation, which took place in the winner’s circle following the club’s series final. The donation went to HABcore, an organization which provides homes and apartments to people and families through Monmouth and Ocean counties in New Jersey.
“One of the great pleasures of getting to compete as an amateur driver is that we can help many different communities,” said Verruso. “We’ve supported HABcore for many years and are happy to help in their mission to provide housing security for those in need.”
The AHDC is an amateur driving club, meaning its drivers do not retain the purse money earned from competing in races. Instead, the drivers’ earnings are reserved for donations to various charities, including HABcore, as well as many focused on racehorse aftercare, cancer research and those which help families in need like Ronald McDonald House.
With the Freehold season wrapping on Saturday, AHDC action will resume in 2024 with dates for a summer series still to be announced.
(With files from Freehold Raceway & AHDC)