Verruso, Ciuffetelli take AHDC races

WILKES-BARRE, Pa.— Anthony Verruso and Tony Ciuffetelli both fired to the point and held command to the end to win their respective American Harness Drivers Club (AHDC) events on Sunday (May 11).

Verruso scored in the $7,500 AHDC Pace at Harrah’s Philadelphia with Louis Litt N (Art Major), stopping the clock in 1:53.3. Surging towards the lead through a :27 first quarter, Louis Litt N overtook Drinkin Again (driven by Vincent Gargano) and remained on the muscle while Imstaynalive (Thomas Santeramo) pressed on the rim.

Louis Litt N stayed strong through a :55.4 half and maintained his speed to three-quarters in 1:24.1 while Imstaynalive retreated outside and Harry Hanover (Yogi Sheridan) led a backfield charge three wide.

But Verruso had his competition measured, and Louis Litt N strolled over the line a 1-3/4-length winner with Rose Run Woodrow (Joe Lee) – the 8-5 favorite – rallying for second.

Harry Hanover settled for third and Master Miki (Geovany Hernandez) kicked from last for fourth.

LOUIS LITT N REPLAY

Juan Cano trains Louis Litt N, a 9-year-old gelding by Art Major, for owners Nancy Grbelja and Cano Racing Stable LLC. He paid $5.40 to win.

Hours later and many miles farther north, Tony Ciuffetelli took his competition pillar to post in the $10,000 AHDC Trot at Pocono Downs. Ciuffetelli sent his charge, Muscle Dan, from post 6 and to the lead moving for a :28.2 first quarter before grabbing a breather to a :58.3 half. Winneress (Anthony Verruso) attempted a first-over push but flattened to three-quarters in 1:28.2. Muscle Dan fought further after rebuffing that challenge when pocket-sitter BBC Sportsboy (Robert Hechkoff) lunged forward in the stretch along with 7-5 favorite Just The Facts (Tony Beltrami) to the center of the track. Ciuffetelli reached the line in time to post a 1:57.4 victory by a nose over BBC Sportsboy, while Just The Facts finished a head off of the winner in third and Hunters Gal (Frank Tsipouras) saved ground for fourth.

MUSCLE DAN REPLAY

Tony Ciuffetelli trains Muscle Dan, a 6-year-old gelding by Dover Dan, for owners Joseph and Albert Ciuffetelli. He paid $19.40 to win.

AHDC action continues next Sunday (May 18) with pacing divisions at Harrah’s Philadelphia and divisions for the summer trotting series at Pocono Downs. First-race post time at Harrah’s Philadelphia is 12:40 p.m. (EDT) and 6 p.m. (EDT) at Pocono Downs.

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

by Ray Cotolo, for the AHDC