FREEHOLD, N.J.— Harness racing driver Anthony Verruso utilized the pylon post to full advantage with Call Me Thefireman (Wishing Stone), but Mike Polansky equally capitalized from a pocket trip with My Big Kadillac (Kadabra). The two struck the photo finish beam inseparable, crowning both with the top prize in the $15,000 American Harness Drivers Club (AHDC) Trot Final at Freehold Raceway on Saturday (May 25).
![Dead-Heat win finish in AHDC Finale 1](https://harnesslink.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/452A3858-copy-scaled.jpg)
Verruso hustled Call Me Thefireman to the fore as My Big Kadillac secured the seat behind the leader and 2-1 favorite Lionhead (driven by Yogi Sheridan) ducked into third. Call Me Thefireman carved a :29 first quarter and coasted towards the stands and through a :59.4 half, where Lionhead launched his bid on the rim to dig into the tempo-setter. Lionhead inched closer to Call Me Thefireman’s throat moving to three-quarters in 1:29 but plateaued off the final turn.
Call Me Thefireman stayed head honcho spinning for home with one more foe with ammo in the holster. My Big Kadillac, off a ground-saving trip, had room through the open stretch to dive in and make a final-ditch push for the lead. Verruso and Call Me Thefireman stayed game after cutting the mile but My Big Kadillac thrusted forward in the closing stages of the 1:59.1 mile to leave victory for the camera to decide. But the camera showed the two hit the finish virtually together, giving both a dead-heat win. Lionhead finished third, beaten a length, with Empereurthebest FR (James Slendorn) taking fourth.
The dead-heat by Call Me Thefireman and My Big Kadillac was the only one for win through the whole Winter-Spring Series at Freehold. Symon Spicer trains Call Me Thefireman, an 8-year-old gelding, for Anthony Verruso while Mike Polansky owns and trains My Big Kadillac, a 10-year-old gelding. Call Me Thefireman paid $5.40 to win and My Big Kadillac returned $16.40.
CALL ME THEFIREMAN – MY BIG KADILLAC REPLAY
Pearly Allen vaulted to victory with Zlatan (Muscle Mass) in the $9,000 AHDC consolation, run in memory of Freehold’s longtime and incomparable voice: Larry Lederman.
![Dead-Heat win finish in AHDC Finale 2](https://harnesslink.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/452A3813-copy-scaled.jpg)
Allen floated off the gate to sit behind a battle between All Rise (Tony Beltrami) and Spirit Of Success (John Calabrese) to a :28.2 first quarter. Dust settled when All Rise crossed to the controls and plodded towards a :58.4 half with a mild first-over threat looming from Drazzmatazz (Yogi Sheridan). All Rise continued resolute on the point to three-quarters in 1:29.3 and held firm through the final turn as Spirit Of Success vacated pocket.
With a gap and then the open stretch approaching, Allen engaged with Zlatan, cut the corner and zipped through the inside lane to overhaul All Rise and win going away by 1-3/4 lengths in a 2:00.2 mile. All Rise settled for second while Spirit Of Success levelled off in third and Starlitcresentroll (James Slendorn) rallied from second over for fourth.
Paul Fusco trains Zlatan, an 11-year-old gelding, for owner ATA Racing LLC. He paid $17.60 to win.
ZLATAN REPLAY
With the Freehold season wrapping on Saturday, AHDC action will resume in 2024 with dates for a summer series still to be announced.
For complete race results, click here: US Trotting Results
by Ray Cotolo, for the American Harness Drivers Club