Slendorn, Verruso winners in AHDC Trots

FREEHOLD, N.J.— James Slendorn and Anthony Verruso took their harness racing competitors pillar to post in their respective $7,500 divisions of the American Harness Drivers Club (AHDC) Trot at Freehold Raceway on Saturday (Nov. 23).

Slendorn stormed away in the first division to a 1:59.1 win as the 2-5 favorite behind Beacon Beach (Resolve). Taking command out of post 6 to a :28.2 first quarter, Slendorn opened his lead on 43-1 shot Showme Some Muscle (driven by Jacob Stillwell) to a :58 half and cruised to three-quarters in 1:28.1. Beacon Beach drew farther clear from his foes spinning for home and registered a 6-3/4-length win at the beam over Showme Some Muscle. Lionhead (Yogi Sheridan) gave chase from third and Im The Muscle (Anthony Verruso) finished fourth.

BEACON BEACH REPLAY

Joe Bongiorno trains Beacon Beach, a 4-year-old gelding by Resolve, for owner El Dorado Stables. He paid $2.60 to win.

Anthony Verruso waded all foes in the second division to post a 2:04.1 win with Call Me Thefireman (Wishing Stone). Verruso cleared to the point before a :31.1 first quarter and pocketed early challenger Lil’ Day Drinkin (Mickey Goldin).

Passing the half in 1:02.2, Verruso soon had further pressure to face as Fashion Forever (Dawn Anderson) marched up the rim and reached within a length of the leader at three-quarters in 1:33.1. Fashion Forever dug deeper into Call Me Thefireman through the turn, but Verruso’s charge slid away in the stretch and scooted to a 1-1/4-length win. Fashion Forever held second with Landia (Mike Polansky) closing for third and Gatsby (Steven Reisenweaver), the 6-5 favorite, riding the pylons for fourth.

CALL ME THEFIREMAN REPLAY

Veronica Spicer trains Call Me Thefireman, an 8-year-old gelding by Wishing Stone, for owner Anthony Verruso. He paid $5 to win.

AHDC action resumes at Freehold Raceway next Saturday (Nov. 30). First-race post time at Freehold is 12:30 p.m. (EST).

For complete race results, click here: US Trotting Results

by Ray Cotolo, for the AHDC