Beltrami scores ‘Fourpeat’ in closing AHDC Trot

WILKES-BARRE, Pa.— Tony Beltrami notched his fourth consecutive harness racing win in the American Harness Drivers Club (AHDC) Trot on the closing-day card of the 2025 season at Pocono Downs Saturday (Nov. 22) over a busy AHDC weekend.

Beltrami delivered 9-5 second choice Brave By Design (Walner) to a 1:58 win in the lone $10,000 dash of the AHDC Trot. After sitting third behind leader Youmeandwhiskey (driven by Geovany Hernandez) through opening fractions of :28.2 and :58.2, Beltrami lifted Brave By Design off the pegs and rolled forward to grab the lead past three-quarters in 1:28.1. Brave By Design then held his ground in the stretch when confronted late by rallying 4-5 favorite Snowman Hanover to score a neck win with Youmeandwhiskey another seven lengths behind in third. Keystone Thunder (Matt Zuccarello) faltered from a pocket trip for fourth.

BRAVE BY DESIGN REPLAY

Maria Alvarez trains Brave By Design, a 6-year-old gelding by Walner, for owner George Dremonas. He paid $5.60 to win.

Following closing day at Pocono, Harrah’s Philadelphia hosted three $7,500 divisions of the AHDC Pace during its Sunday (Nov. 23) card with Dante Scattolini, Anthony Verruso and Yogi Sheridan landing victories in their respective dashes.

Scattolini scored from off the speed in the first AHDC Pace with Pinebush Lifesaver in a 1:57.4 mile. He sat fifth to a :27.1 first quarter cut by Rockinwiththebest (Yogi Sheridan) and launched into action as pocket-sitter Hot Stuff (Charlie Longo) broke stride and scattered the backfield heading to the half in :56.4. Pinebush Lifesaver pushed through and made steady gains into third approaching three-quarters in 1:26.2 as Rockinwiththebest grew weary on the lead. Scattolini kept Pinebush Lifesaver focused and recouped a three-length deficit spinning for home to then surge clear for a 1-1/4-length win. Flying Tiger (Michael Shults), the even-money favorite, closed from last for second with Bargain Shopper (Anthony Verruso) finishing third and Rockinwiththebest tiring to fourth.

Bryson Dunning trains Pinebush Lifesaver, a 7-year-old gelding by Life Up Front, for owner P T Stable. He paid $13 to win.

Anthony Verruso vaulted off a pocket ride for a 1:54.3 win with Drinkin Again in the second AHDC Pace. Verruso tracked pacesetter Lew Hauver (Geovany Hernandez) as he set a clip of :27, :56.4 and 1:25.1 before entering an attack. Drinkin Again pounced and zipped past tiring Lew Hauver in the stretch to notch a length win over fast-closing Redding Hanover (Joe Lee) in second. Try Line (Charlie Longo) rallied from mid-pack for third with Costa Diva (Cote Keim) sitting a pylon trip for fourth.

Philip Jasper owns and trains Drinkin Again, an 11-year-old stallion by Real Artist. He paid $10 to win.

Yogi Sheridan bagged the last AHDC Pace split from a first-over push by Hashtag Money to win in a 1:54.3 mile. Sheridan tipped Hashtag Money off the pylons after a :27 first quarter and advanced towards pacesetter Better Than Some (Frank Tsipouras) heading to a :56 half. Hashtag Money loomed forward and grabbed command passing three-quarters in 1:24 and paced sturdily for the line to nab victory by a neck. Bizys Beatle (Geovany Hernandez) soared from near last for second with Everbridge (Joe Lee) closing from last for third. Pocket-sitter Revolver N (Michael Shults) settled for fourth.

Ivan Llopez owns and trains Hashtag Money, a 6-year-old gelding by Sunshine Beach. He paid $10 to win.

With Pocono done for the 2025 season, AHDC action resumes at Harrah’s Philadelphia next Sunday (Nov. 30) with divisions of the AHDC Pace. First-race post time at Harrah’s Philadelphia is 12:40 p.m. (EST).

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

From the PHHA / Pocono Downs