A trio of events went postward for the American Harness Drivers Club (AHDC) on Sunday afternoon (Aug. 6) at Harrah’s Philadelphia. Two of those divisions closed the 14-race card and each winner registered decisive victories.
First – literally – came Tony Beltrami in the $9,900 second-division trot. From the pylon post, Beltrami barrelled 3-5 favourite Red Overbach for the lead to pocket Blarneysbluestone (Frank Tsipouras) past a :27.2 first quarter. Red Overbach continued to swell on the engine, widening in stride and in his leading margin through a :56.3 half and 1:25.3 three-quarters. Red Overbach opened seven lengths on his competition to the final turn and only extended his advantage through the lane, posting a 10-3/4-length victory in 1:55.2. The Wish (John Calabrese) closed along the rim to take second with My Big Kadillac (Mike Polansky) holding third and Masster Blue (Anthony Verruso) snagging fourth.
Paul Fusco conditions Red Overbach, a four-year-old gelding by Royalty For Life, for owners J M F Racing LLC and Peter Fusco Racing LLC. He paid $3.20 to win.
Yogi Sheridan in the following – and final – race zipped away from his rivals to deliver a romp as the 1-5 favourite behind Musical Box in the lone $9,900 AHDC Pace.
Sheridan cleared command past a :27.4 first quarter from pylon-starter Bargain Shopper (John Calabrese) and coasted uncontested as Im Sponge Worthy (Tony Beltrami) failed to find a seat at the pegs and clogged the outer flow to a :56.2 half. With his competition still chasing his tail to three-quarters in 1:24.4, Sheridan disposed of his pursuers with a :28.4 final quarter to clock a 1:53.3 victory and finish 7-1/2 lengths better than The Downtown Bus (Anthony Verruso). Bargain Shopper settled for third and Spirit Of Truth (Jacob Stillwell) took fourth.
Jamal Williams trains Musical Box, a six-year-old gelding by Net Ten Eom, for owner Winning Action LLC. He paid $2.60 to win.
In the $9,900 first division of the AHDC Trot, John Calabrese recorded another victory with Shoemaker Hanover, this one a pillar-to-post job in 1:56.3. Calabrese commandeered his competition to a :28 first quarter and rolled to a :57.2 half and 1:26.3 three-quarters under minimal pressure. Shoemaker Hanover then spun for home and remained resolute to the line to win by 1-3/4 lengths over Southwind Frost (Bob Hechkoff) closing for second. Pocket-sitter Campbellini (Dante Scattolini) gave chase in third and Lionhead (Yogi Sheridan) levelled off from a first-over move in the far turn to take fourth.
Calabrese trains and co-owns Shoemaker Hanover, a 10-year-old stallion by Cantab Hall, through his Calabrese Farms LLC with Michelle Rickey. He paid $6 to win.
AHDC action continues next Sunday, Aug. 13 at Harrah’s Philadelphia for another preliminary of the club’s summer series. Just four preliminaries remain before the summer series final slated to go at Pocono Downs at Mohegan Pennsylvania on Sunday, Sept. 10.
(AHDC)