Verruso, Faraldo on top in AHDC events

WILKES-BARRE, Pa.— Anthony Verruso and Joe Faraldo both went on speed missions on Sunday (May 18) to win in their respective harness racing events for the American Harness Drivers Club (AHDC) on opposite sides of the Pennsylvania Turnpike.

Verruso went pillar to post in the $7,500 AHDC Pace at Harrah’s Philadelphia with 9-2 third choice Coligny Hanover (Sunshine Beach) in 1:52.2. Leaving from post 7, Verruso grabbed the point through a :28 first quarter and gradually widened his advantage through middle fractions of :56.3 and 1:24. He had the competition at his mercy spinning for home as he pulled away more to register a 5-1/4-length win over 7-5 favorite and pocket chaser Master Miki (Geovany Hernandez) in second. Rose Run Woodrow (John Calabrese) checked in third, another seven lengths behind, and Western Bayama (Frank Tsipouras) gave chase in fourth.

COLIGNY HANOVER REPLAY

Izzy Estrada trains Coligny Hanover, a 6-year-old gelding by Sunshine Beach, for his Estrada Racing LLC. He paid $11.20 to win.

A few hours later and several miles north, Joe Faraldo went down the road in the $10,000 AHDC Trot at Pocono Downs with 5-2 second choice Beerthirty K (Credit Winner) in a 1:57 mile. Faraldo took the helm to a :29 first quarter and parked challenger Just The Facts (Tony Beltrami) through middle splits of :58.4 and 1:27.2. Beerthirty K then kicked away in the stretch to post a four-length victory while Just The Facts held second from BBC Sportsboy (Rob Hechkoff), who launched from second over for third. Winneress (Anthony Verruso) saved ground and finished fourth.

Scott Di Domenico trains Beerthirty K, an 8-year-old gelding by Credit Winner, for owners Joe Faraldo and Triple D Stables Inc. He paid $7.60 to win.

BEERTHIRTY K REPLAY

AHDC action continues next Sunday (May 25) with the next leg of the club’s Summer Trotting Series at Pocono Downs. First-race post time at Pocono Downs is 6 p.m. (EDT).

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

by Ray Cotolo, for the AHDC