Matt Zuccarello ground first-over with Snap Call and overpowered the pacesetter to land the spoils in the $9,000 American Harness Drivers Club Pace at Freehold Raceway on Friday afternoon (May 26).
Gaius Crastinus (driven by Anthony Verruso) took the top with pylon-starter Salvadors Sun (Paul Minore) pushing for the pocket to a :29.1 first quarter. Zuccarello raced fourth with Snap Call before sending his charge along the rim to march after Gaius Crastinus through a 1:00 half.
Snap Call closed up the backstretch to race within a length of Gaius Crastinus as the field plodded toward three-quarters in 1:29.4. Gaius Crastinus continued battling to the inside until the pressure mounted too steep and he gave way through the lane to Snap Call, a 1-1/2-length winner in 1:59.2. Windsong Jack (Yogi Sheridan), the 9-5 favourite, rolled from second-over to secure second. Pocket-sitter Salvadors Sun settled for third and Whata Twist (Jacob Stillwell) finished fourth.
Kubi Erzene trains Snap Call, a five-year-old gelding by Shadow Play, for owner Winners Circle Racing LLC. The pacer paid $6 to win.
American Harness Drivers Club (AHDC) action concludes for the spring on Saturday with the consolation and final for the AHDC Trot. The consolation, going for $9,000, is carded as Race 10 and the $15,000 final is carded as Race 11 on the 11-race card.
First-race post time at Freehold is 12:30 p.m. (EDT).
(With files from American Harness Drivers Club)