Verruso and Solomon winners in AHDC

CHESTER, Pa.— Anthony Verruso vaulted from off the speed and Jim King Solomon fired down the highway to take their respective harness racing dashes of the $9,900 American Harness Drivers Club (AHDC) Pace at Harrah’s Philadelphia on Sunday (Oct. 2).

In the first division, Anthony Verruso got away sixth with Rockabilly Charm (Rock N Roll Heaven) as 2-1 favorite Its Showtime (driven by Juan Cano) cleared control from Carlas Mach A (Yogi Sheridan) past a :26.4 first quarter. Sheridan then circled Carlas Mach A back to the lead as Big Bad Bill (Tony Beltrami) loomed along the rim and soon found himself parked right alongside the pacesetter through a :56.1 half and three-quarters in 1:26.3.

All the while, Verruso slipped Rockabilly Charm off the cones from the back and with fresh legs charged by his competition to snag a 1-1/4-length win in 1:57.3 over Its Showtime as he dashed off a pocket ride for second. All In Jest (Adrian Wisher Jr.) rallied from second over for third and Tigers Way (Frank Tsipouras) took fourth.

Victoria D’Alessandro trains and owns Rockabilly Charm, an 8-year-old gelding. Off the fifth choice in the betting, he paid $17 to win.

ROCKABILLY CHARM REPLAY

Jim King Solomon bolted to the top with Bionic (Always B Miki) and bottomed out his rivals to win the other division in 1:54.4. Bionic landed on the point out of post 5 and clicked a :28 first quarter with Cheyenne Ryan Lee (Wyatt Long) in the pocket. Though he slowed the tempo to a :57.1 half, Bionic built a cushy lead of over three lengths to the backside as he sped to three-quarters in 1:25.1 and stayed clear of his foes through the lane. Rock On Line (Anthony Verruso) rallied by tired rivals to grab second, beaten two lengths, with Cheyenne Ryan Lee settling for third and Baanke Sea (Juan Cano) finishing fourth.

BIONIC REPLAY

Michael Shults conditions Bionic, a 5-year-old gelding, for owner Blazer One Racing. Sent the 7-5 favorite, he paid $4.80 to win.

AHDC action continues with the fourth leg of the Fall Trotting Series at Freehold Raceway on Saturday (Oct. 7). The Fall Trotting Series continues through to Dec. 31 when a $15,000 final will be contested at Harrah’s Philadelphia.

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

by Ray Cotolo, for AHDC