FREEHOLD, N.J.— Matt Zuccarello ground first over with Snap Call (Shadow Play) and overpowered the pacesetter to land the harness racing spoils in the $9,000 American Harness Drivers Club (AHDC) 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 to Snap Call through the lane.
Windsong Jack (Yogi Sheridan), the 9-5 favorite, rolled from second over to secure second. Pocket-sitter Salvadors Sun settled for third and Whata Twist (Jacob Stillwell) finished fourth.
SNAP CALL / MATT ZUCCARELLO REPLAY
Kubi Erzene trains Snap Call, a 5-year-old gelding, for owner Winners Circle Racing LLC. He paid $6 to win.
AHDC action concludes for the spring on Saturday (May 27) 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).
For complete race results, click here.
by Ray Cotolo, for the AHDC