AHDC trots to Hechkoff and Calabrese

FREEHOLD, N.J.— Bob Hechkoff ripped to the front and held, and John Calabrese clobbered his competition to take their respective $9,000 harness racing divisions for the American Harness Drivers Club (AHDC) Trot at Freehold Raceway over a sloppy track on Saturday afternoon (Oct. 14).

In the first division, Hechkoff settled into fourth with Southwind Frost (E L Titan) while Turbochargedpete (driven by Joe Faraldo) fired from post 4 to lead the field by a :29.4 first quarter. He then slowed proceedings to a half in 1:01, which prompted Hechkoff to fire off the pegs with Southwind Frost moving through the clubhouse turn.

Southwind Frost surged to the lead up the backside and cleared command to three-quarters in 1:31.2 while then holding off a passing-lane charge from Turbochargedpete by a head in 2:02. Zlatan (Jacob Stillwell), following the winner’s brush, gave way off the corner and settled for third with LA Magic (Tony Beltrami) closing from last for fourth.

Michael Fiumenero trains Southwind Frost, a 7-year-old gelding, for owner R.B.H. Ventures Inc. He paid $7.40 to win.

SOUTHWIND FROST REPLAY

Once John Calabrese circled Dingle (Explosive Matter) to the lead in the second division, the race came to a close. Calabrese landed in the pocket from the pylon post with the odds-on favorite to a :29.3 first quarter and swooped to grab control from Lil’ Day Drinkin (Tony Beltrami) approaching a 1:00.2 half.

Masster Blue (Anthony Verruso) tried to make progress along the rim to three-quarters in 1:30.3, but to that point Dingle abandoned his foes. Dingle dashed away to a nine-length lead at the end of a 2:00.3 mile while Masster Blue held second from King Cast (Jacob Stillwell). My Big Kadillac (Mike Polansky) finished fourth.

DINGLE REPLAY

Timothy Lancaster trains and co-owns Dingle, a 4-year-old mare, with Mark and Meghan Lancaster. She paid $4.20 to win.

AHDC action shifts to Pocono Downs at Mohegan Pennsylvania next Saturday (Oct. 21) for the sixth preliminary of its Fall Trotting Series, which builds to a $15,000 final on New Year’s Eve at Harrah’s Philadelphia. First-race post time at Pocono Downs is 1 p.m. (EDT).

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

by Ray Cotolo, for the AHDC