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Freehold, NJ—Move over Joe DiMaggio we have a hot harness racing driver with a new streak coming for your record.
John Calabrese has won at least one of the American Harness Drivers Club (AHDC) Trot races in each of the last four weeks. This week with only one AHDC race slated for the Saturday (12/10) event, Calabrese guided his own Shoemaker Hanover (Cantab Hall) to a rousing victory in the lane.
The race set up well for the duo as the inside three horses all made a play for the lead. The rail rider Presidente Zette (Chip Allen) gave way to My Big Kadillac (Mike Polansky) just before the 1/8th pole, but there was no rest for the early leavers as Call Me Thefireman (Anthony Verruso) came calling quickly to contest the lead.
Polansky stung the challenging horse and they went past the ¼ pole in a speedy :29 flat on a cold windy day. Verruso’s horse finally cleared on the second turn and they cruised past the half in 59:1.
That was all Calabrese needed to see as he guided Shoemaker Hanover first over and took dead aim at the leader. Campbellini who also left and got a nice tuck followed the brave cover and the race for the finish was on.
Shoemaker Hanover cleared the tiring leader by a half-length around the last turn but Call Me Thefireman gamely battled back to recapture the lead at the top of the stretch. Unfortunately for him, the well positioned Shoemaker Hanover was easily able to pull away in mid-stretch and win by a comfortable 2 lengths. Campbellini charged up for the place spot with Call Me Thefireman holding on for a well contested third.
SHOEMAKER HANOVER REPLAY
Shoemaker Hanover, a 9-year-old horse, is owned and trained by John Calabrese. The bettors were on their game making him the odds on favorite and were rewarded with a $4.20 win payout.
The AHDC will be back racing next Saturday (12/17) at Freehold and the club determination be making a $5,000 Donation to The Harness Racing Hall of Fame.
For complete race results, click here.
by Anthony Verruso, for the AHDC
