Beltrami, Calabrese victorious in weekend AHDC action

WILKES-BARRE, Pa.— Tony Beltrami and John Calabrese won in the pair of American Harness Drivers Club (AHDC) events over the weekend, with Beltrami powering home to win the $10,000 AHDC Trot at Pocono Downs on Saturday (Sept. 27) and Calabrese snagging the $7,500 AHDC Pace on Sunday (Sept. 28) at Harrah’s Philadelphia.

In the AHDC Trot, Beltrami swooped to the lead with even-money chalk J-s Hopscotch and pulled away from his rivals for a 1:57.1 victory. Beltrami grabbed control from 13-1 shot Youmeandwhiskey (driven by Geovany Hernandez) after a :28.4 first quarter and coasted on the point through middle fractions of :58.1 and 1:27. Voss Blue Chip (Mike Polanksy) tipped from a pocket trip up the backstretch to challenge for the lead, but J-s Hopscotch easily turned that rival away through the last turn. He then widened his lead in the stretch to register a 3-1/4-length win over Big Nudge (Anthony Verruso), who rallied off a ground-saving trip for second. Hunters Gal (Robert Ciavardini) closed for third and Voss Blue Chip levelled off for fourth.

J-S HOPSCOTCH REPLAY

Mike Watson trains J-s Hopscotch, a 7-year-old gelding by Mr Web Page, for owner Clifford Grundy. He paid $4.20 to win.

A day later and thirty cents to the dollar shorter, Calabrese delivered 4-5 chalk Hashtag Money to a 1:52.1 victory in the lone division of the AHDC Pace. Calabrese hustled for the lead to a :26.1 first quarter and maintained his speed while confronted by a first-over bid from Bionic (Michael Shults). Bionic tired after a :54.1 half while Hashtag Money muscled up the backstretch to three-quarters in 1:22.3 and fought gamely through the remainder. He staved off a late push from pocket-popper The Opener (Bruce Baker) in the stretch for a neck win with Seize Control (Jacob Stillwell) also closing ground but settling for third. Grateful Kiss (Geovany Hernandez) rallied off a stalking trip for fourth.

Ivan Llopez owns and trains Hashtag Money, a 6-year-old gelding by Sunshine Beach. He paid $3.60 to win.

AHDC action continues next Saturday (Oct. 4) with trotting divisions at Pocono Downs. First-race post time at Pocono is 1 p.m. (EDT).

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

by Ray Cotolo, for the AHDC