Beltrami romps, Pace divisions produce three winners

WILKES-BARRE, Pa.— Tony Beltrami crushed his competition to take the lone $10,000 dash of the American Harness Drivers Club (AHDC) Trot at Pocono Downs on Saturday (Nov. 15) before Harrah’s Philadelphia hosted three $7,500 divisions of the AHDC Pace on Sunday (Nov. 16), all of which saw different drivers reach the winner’s circle.

In the AHDC Trot, Beltrami brushed 4-5 chalk Chiplosive to the lead before the half and zipped away from his rivals for a 1:56 victory. Beltrami circled his charge out of third after a :27.4 first quarter to grab command from Youmeandwhiskey (driven by Geovany Hernandez) and take the field to the half in :57.2. Chiplosive maintained his speed on the march to three-quarters in 1:26.1 and cruised through the remainder while widening his advantage in the stretch. He crossed the beam a 5-1/4-length winner over Youmeandwhiskey with Snowman Hanover (Vanessa Karlewicz) rallying from last for third and I’m Out (Joe Faraldo) giving chase in fourth.

CHIPSPLOSIVE REPLAY

Maria Alvarez trains Chiplosive, a 9-year-old gelding by Explosive Matter, for owner Terrence Smith. He paid $3.80 to win.

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

Frank Tsipouras won the first of three AHDC divisions on Sunday at Harrah’s Philadelphia when guiding Better Than Some to a pillar-to-post score in 1:54.3. Tsipouras seized control to a :27.2 first quarter and steadied the tempo for a breather to a :56.4 half. From there, Better Than Some spurted away from the competition to open a three-length advantage to three-quarters in 1:24.4. He held steady as Everbridge (Joe Lee) ground first up to narrow his lead in the stretch and crossed the line a 1-1/2-length winner with 7-5 favorite Revolver N (Michael Shults) closing ground for third. Duck Into The Nite (Geovany Hernandez) finished fourth.

Joseph Karrat owns and trains Better Than Some, a 9-year-old gelding by Betterthancheddar. He paid $19.80 to win.

Yogi Sheridan applied similar speed strength to land Shore Of Himself in the winner’s circle with a 1:55 effort in the second AHDC Pace. Sheridan cleared command from pylon-starter Western Bayama (Frank Tsipouras) through a :27.3 first quarter and withstood first-over pressure from Drinkin Again (Anthony Verruso) through splits of :56.1 and 1:24.4. Drinkin Again eventually faltered from the wide pursuit while Shore Of Himself scampered away for a 2-1/4-length win. Redding Hanover (Joe Lee), the 3-2 favorite, rallied from second over for second with A Stud Named Sam (Raymond Burt) following suit from third over for third. Try Line (Charles Longo) saved ground from last for fourth.

Sheridan trains Shore Of Himself, a 7-year-old gelding by Western Shore, for owner Beverly Schiffman. He paid $7.20 to win.

Michael Shults took the final AHDC Pace division with a successful first-over push by Flying Tiger in a 1:57 mile. Shults tipped his charge into action out of fourth after a :28.1 first quarter and progressed uncovered up the rim after leader Costa Diva (Cote Keim) through a :59 half. Flying Tiger advanced to within a length of the leader up the backstretch and intensified his pressure on the leader passing three-quarters in 1:27.3. Costa Diva fought the challenge through the last turn and into the stretch before caving to the assault in the closing stages as Flying Tiger surged to a three-quarter length win. Pinebush Lifesaver (Dante Scattolini) closed for third, another six lengths behind, with 6-5 favorite Rockinwiththebest (Yogi Sheridan) another five lengths behind in fourth.

Shults trains Flying Tiger, a 6-year-old gelding by Always B Miki, for owner Blazer One Racing. He paid $8.80 to win.

For complete Harrah’s Philadelphia race results, click here: US Trotting results.

AHDC action continues with trotting divisions at Pocono Downs on Saturday (Nov. 22) and pacing divisions at Harrah’s Philadelphia on Sunday (Nov. 23). First-race post time at Pocono is 1 p.m. (EST) and 12:40 p.m. (EST) at Harrah’s Philadelphia.

by Ray Cotolo, for the AHDC