AHDC Trots held at Pocono Downs

WILKES-BARRE, Pa.— Harness racing amateur driver Andrew Adamczyk and Tony Beltrami both fired to the point and scored front-stepping victories in their respective $10,000 divisions of the American Harness Drivers Club (AHDC) Trot at Pocono Downs on Sunday night (Aug. 25).

In the first division, Adamczyk and Buzz (Kadabra) rebuffed persistent first-over pressure from Tony Beltrami and Puddin N Pie to post a 1:56.1 win.

Adamczyk sent Buzz out of post 6 for the lead and landed on the front to a :28.2 first quarter over pylon-starter Hunters Gal (driven by William Clark Jr.), who secured the pocket. Puddin N Pie also fired from an outside post as did 2-1 favorite Fashion Ken (Bob Hechkoff), but the pair were rejected a seat at the pylons and forced to park on the rim.

With nowhere but forward to go, Beltrami pushed Puddin N Pie after Buzz to a :57.3 half but soon stalled from the death seat in the march up the backstretch. Buzz clocked three-quarters in 1:27 and strolled on the lead while Puddin N Pie steadily retreated to the outside. Hunters Gal remained the lone threat spinning for home but only made slight progress on Buzz to the finish and settled for second by three-quarter lengths. Can’t Say No (Frank Tsipouras) grabbed third, another six lengths back, with Archibald (Neil Glasser) saving ground for fourth.

Andrew Adamczyk owns and trains Buzz, a 12-year-old gelding who paid $9.80 to win.

BUZZ REPLAY

Beltrami had an easier time getting to the cones in the second division with Jive Ninety Five (Andover Hall), who motored out of post 8 and down the road to a 1:57.2 win.

Jive Ninety Five powered past Lady’s Image (Neil Glasser) to take the lead after a :27.3 first quarter and promptly slowed proceedings to grab a breather into a :57.3 half. Odds-on favorite Resolute Bay (Peter Stratton) edged out of seventh and lunged first over to take a shot through the tepid tempo but reached his limit when two lengths off the lead in the backside.

By three-quarters in 1:27, Jive Ninety Five coasted around the final turn but had a pair of fast-closing rivals encroaching in the stretch. Ima Standup Guy (Joe Faraldo), who broke stride at the start, came charging from second over as did Ghibli (Anthony Verruso) from third over. However the duo didn’t have enough racetrack and Jive Ninety Five crossed the beam a head to the good over Ima Standup Guy in second. Ghibli settled for third and Lady’s Image took fourth.

JIVE NINETY FIVE REPLAY

Peter Pellegrino owns and trains Jive Ninety Five, a 7-year-old gelding who paid $10 to win.

AHDC action resumes next Sunday (Sept. 1) with pacing divisions at Harrah’s Philadelphia. First-race post time at Harrah’s Philadelphia is 12:40 p.m. (EDT).

For complete race results, click here: US Trotting results.

by Ray Cotolo, for the AHDC