Calabrese, Stillwell claim AHDC trots

WILKES-BARRE, Pa.— John Calabrese rallied in time and Jacob Stillwell capitalized on a pocket ride to take their respective $10,000 harness racing divisions of the American Harness Drivers Club (AHDC) Trot at Pocono Downs on Saturday (Oct. 12).

Calabrese kicked home to a narrow victory with 7-1 shot Archibald (Archangel) in the first division, stopping the clock in 1:57.4.

Archibald settled to race third to the inside, tracking speed set by Puddin N Pie (driven by Tony Beltrami) and pocket-sitter Midnight Dreams (Joseph Skowyra). Puddin N Pie dealt with unrelenting pressure on the lead from a parked Snowman Hanover (Peter Gerry) despite leading through a tepid tempo of :29 and :58.2. Snowman Hanover began to falter from the wide trip into the backside as Gatsby (Steven Reisenweaver) swooped three wide from last to make a brief challenge for the lead passing three-quarters in 1:28. Through all the commotion, Archibald laid in wait. Once the outer tier retreated and a lane opened, Calabrese angled Archibald to the outside and surged forward to collar Puddin N Pie late in the mile and win by a head at the beam. Midnight Dreams settled for third and Everyone’s Talkin (Jacob Stillwell) saved ground to take fourth.

Symon Spicer trains Archibald, a 10-year-old gelding by Archangel, for owner Michael Sherman Jr. He paid $17.40 to win.

ARCHIBALD REPLAY

Stillwell found as smooth a path to the winner’s circle through a less eventful mile when hitting the line first with 8-1 shot Hurrikane Willie G (Donato Hanover) in 1:57.3.

Ima Standup Guy (Joe Faraldo) fired from post 8 and took the lead from Hurrikane Willie G after a :28.1 first quarter. Once on the lead, Ima Standup Guy faced little abrasion from his competitors to a :57.4 half and 1:27.2 three-quarters, though Stillwell kept Hurrikane Willie G engaged from the pocket. Stillwell took his shot with Hurrikane Willie G spinning for home and pushed past Ima Standup Guy with ease to pull away to a 1-1/4-length win. Winning Muscle (Yogi Sheridan), the 3-5 favorite, made a mild first-over bid to take third and Big Nudge (Anthony Verruso) finished fourth.

HURRIKANE WILLIE G

Maria Reid trains Hurrikane Willie G, a 6-year-old gelding by Donato Hanover, for owner Morrison Racing Stables. He paid $19.20 to win.

AHDC action continues with pacing divisions at Harrah’s Philadelphia on Sunday (Oct. 13) and the next leg of the fall trotting series next Saturday (Oct. 19) at Pocono Downs. First-race post time at Harrah’s Philadelphia is 12:40 p.m. (EDT) and 1 p.m. at Pocono Downs.

For complete race results, click here: US Trotting Results

by Ray Cotolo, for the AHDC