Passa-Grille Beach proves best mudder

After getting parked out to the opening quarter mile, Passa-Grille Beach (Somebeachsomewhere) and harness racing driver Jack Pelling were able to wire the field in winning the $12,000 Preferred-Handicap Pace at Freehold Raceway Saturday (March 25).

The 10^th race feature started off with the race favorite, Baron Michael (Austin Siegelman) scooting out to the early lead and then came Passa-Grille Beach on the outside to take command by the opening quarter mile in :28 over the sloppy track that featured a 2 second allowance by the judges.

Once on the lead, Passa-Grille Beach held the field at bay as they raced single file to the half mile in :58. It was not until the backstretch that Mcclinchie N (Johnathan Ahle) came first-over but was still four lengths back as Passa-Grille Beach led past the three-quarters in 1:26.4.

Coming off the final turn, Passa-Grille Beach had only Baron Michael to worry about and they held off the race favorite in the stretch to win by three-quarters of a length in 1:56.1. Albert A Scootin (Troy Beyer) was third.

PASSA-GRILLE BEACH REPLAY

It was the fourth win this year for Passa-Grille Beach. The eight-year-old gelding is trained by Mark Capone and is co-owned by George Tackley, Wendy Storrier, Cameron Capone and Edward Mcenery. He paid $5.80 to win.

Tony Beltrami took no prisoners in both $9,000 divisions of the American Harness Drivers Club (AHDC) Trot and visited the winner’s circle on both occasions on Saturday afternoon.

In the first division, Beltrami circled odds-on favorite Louis (Muscle Mass) to the lead after a :29.3 first quarter with Midnight Cookie (driven by Joe Lee) settling for the pocket. My Big Kadillac (Mike Polansky) then mounted a first-over challenge into a 1:00.4 half and gained to within 1-1/2 lengths of the leader to three-quarters in 1:31.1.

Though My Big Kadillac began a retreat off the corner, leaving Louis to separate by 2-3/4 lengths to the finish of a 2:01.2 mile. Vendor Bill (Maria De Bruijn) rallied from second over to take second with Midnight Cookie finishing third and Masster Blue (Antony Verruso) riding the pylons to take fourth.

Edwin Quevedo trains Louis, a five-year-old gelding for owner Jaypaul Hoover. The gelding paid $3.80 to win.

LOUIS REPLAY

A few races later, Beltrami again prevailed with a favorite – and again for trainer Edwin Quevedo – with 8-5 choice All Rise (Conway Hall).

Taking the lead through a :29.1 first quarter, All Rise pocketed Drazzmatazz (Yogi Sheridan) with Big Sky Ex (John Calabrese) sitting third. “The Judge” Beltrami received only respect on the point through a 1:00 half and 1:30.3 three-quarters. His main challenge came from a minor first-over push by Big Sky Ex to the final turn but All Rise nonetheless stayed strong and coasted to a one-length victory in 2:01.1 over Drazzmatazz. Big Sky Ex settled for third and Finnick Odair (Melissa Arbia) took fourth.

Tony Beltrami owns All Rise, a six-year-old, who paid $5.40 to win.

ALL RISE REPLAY

AHDC action returns to Freehold Raceway on Friday (April 1) with divisions on the pace. First-race post time at Freehold is 12:30 p.m. (EDT).

For complete race results, click here.

by Steve Wolf, for Harnesslink, and Ray Cotolo, for the AHDC