Beltrami sweeps AHDC trots at Pocono

WILKES-BARRE, Pa.— Tony Beltrami delivered a pair of chalks to notch tallies in the two $10,000 divisions for the American Harness Drivers Club (AHDC) Trot at Pocono Downs on Saturday (Oct. 19).

Beltrami won the first harness racing division going pillar to post with 4-5 choice Kobe B (Father Patrick) in a 1:57.3 mile. Taking the lead from post 6, Kobe B rebuffed an early push by Midnight Dreams (driven by Joseph Skowyra) to a :29.1 first quarter and cruised unfettered through the remainder. He clocked middle fractions of :59.2 and 1:28.3 in progress to a 2-1/2-length victory over Everyone’s Talkin (Jacob Stillwell), who chased from the pocket in second. Winneress (Anthony Verruso) also sat a pylon trip to take third and Trump This (Raymond Burt) finished best of the rest in fourth, another five lengths behind

KOBE B REPLAY

Richard Johnson trains Kobe B, a 4-year-old gelding by Father Patrick, for owner Robert Weinstein. He paid $3.80 to win.

Johnson and Beltrami teamed in the other AHDC division with 1-2 favorite Quiksilvr Bluechip (Credit Winner), who ripped home in time to a 1:56.3 victory. Beltrami opted to sit off speed carved by Big Nudge (Anthony Verruso) and sat fifth at the pylons to a :28.1 first quarter.

Big Nudge endured ongoing pressure from Puddin N Pie (Jacob Stillwell) to the quarter and through middle sectionals of :58 and 1:27, but stayed resolute on the point as his challenger faltered through the turn. Ima Standup Guy (Joe Faraldo) swung outside from third rounding for home with Beltrami launching wider with Quiksilvr Bluechip, and Quiksilvr Bluechip steamrolled forward to grab the lead and win by 1-3/4 lengths at the beam over Ima Standup Guy. Big Nudge settled for third and Hunters Gal (William Clark Jr.), off a pocket trip, finished fourth.

Richard Johnson trains Quiksilvr Bluechip, an 8-year-old gelding by Credit Winner, for owner Carmen Iannacone. He paid $3 to win.

QUIKSILVR BLUECHIP REPLAY

AHDC action continues with pacing divisions at Harrah’s Philadelphia on Sunday (Oct. 20) and the next leg of the club’s fall trotting series next Saturday (Oct. 27) at Freehold Raceway. First-race post time at Harrah’s Philadelphia is 12:40 p.m. (EDT) and 12:30 p.m. at Freehold.

For complete race results, click here: US Trotting Results

by Ray Cotolo, for the AHDC