USA
Canada
Australia
New Zealand
Europe
UK / IRE
CHESTER, Pa.— Lee Morris, Tony Beltrami and Cote Keim each collected wins at Harrah’s Philadelphia on Sunday (Dec. 29) in the last harness racing events for the American Harness Drivers Club (AHDC) in 2024.
Morris scored first in the lone division of the AHDC Pace with a pocket-pouncing effort by Tellitsabb (Tellitlikeitis) in 1:55. After taking the lead to a :27.1 first quarter, Morris yielded command to Speed Snip (driven by Tony Beltrami) and coasted in the trail as 9-5 favorite Its Showtime (Yogi Sheridan) moved first over to a :56.2 half.
Its Showtime continued to press Speed Snip by three-quarters in 1:24.3 and fought to take the lead coming off the bottom corner. But Tellitsabb launched to the fore late with fresh legs to collar Its Showtime and slide away to a 1-1/4-length win with Six Feet Apart (Frank Tsipouras) closing from a second-over trip for third and Master Miki (Geovany Hernandez) rallying from last for fourth.
Lee Morris trains Tellitsabb, an 8-year-old gelding, for owner Mindy Findling Repko. He paid $11.60 to win.
TELLITSABB/LEE MORRIS REPLAY
Tony Beltrami delivered slight 2-1 favorite and lone sophomore in the field Honor Guard (Father Patrick) to a 1:58.1 in the first division of the AHDC Trot. Beltrami worked a front-stepping trip for his charge, clearing command to a :29.1 first quarter and wading a first-over push from Ima Standup Guy (Joe Faraldo) through middle fractions of :59.1 and 1:27.4. Despite getting headed off the final turn, Honor Guard reengaged and surged to a length win at the beam over Ima Standup Guy with Manuka (Robert Krivelin) taking third and Snowman Hanover (Peter Gerry) finishing fourth.
HONOR GUARD/TONY BELTRAMI REPLAY
Juan Cano trains Honor Guard, a 3-year-old gelding, for owner Jaypaul Hoover. He paid $6.40 to win.
Cote Keim romped in the other division of the AHDC Trot with his pupil Velociraptor (Father Patrick) in a 1:56.3 mile. Keim secured the point out of post 7 to a :28 first quarter and, after rebuffing an early challenge from Sir Jesse (Lee Morris), widened his lead past a :58.3 half. Velociraptor continued peeling away through three-quarters in 1:27.3 and finished the mile six lengths better than pocket-chaser Puddin N Pie (Yogi Sheridan) in second. Big Nudge (Anthony Verruso) took third off a ground-saving trip and Brookview El Zorro (Tony Ciuffetelli) closed from last for fourth.
VELOCIRAPTOR/COTE KEIM REPLAY
Keim co-owns Velociraptor, a 4-year-old gelding, with Vito Babino. He paid $8 to win.
With Harrah’s Philadelphia concluding its 2024 on Tuesday (Dec. 31), AHDC action will be on hiatus until Spring 2025. Dates for club action will be released when available.
For complete race results, click here: US Trotting results.
by Ray Cotolo, for the AHDC
