Verruso upsets, Hernandez obliterates AHDC rivals

CHESTER, Pa.— Anthony Verruso found the winner’s circle twice and Geovany Hernandez later romped in American Harness Drivers Club (AHDC) action at Harrah’s Philadelphia on Sunday (Dec. 7).

Verruso notched a 1:58 win with 1-5 favorite Big Limo in the lone $7,500 AHDC Trot. After clearing command from a three-wide push into a :28.1 first quarter, Big Limo cruised along on a comfortable lead through middle fractions of :57.2 and 1:26.2. He coasted in for a confident score by 2-3/4 lengths with Big Charlie Moran (driven by Tony Beltrami) rallying for second. My Big Kadillac (Mike Polansky) grabbed third, another six lengths behind, while pocket-sitter Big Nudge (Dante Scattolini) tired to fourth.

Veronica Spicer trains Big Limo, a 5-year-old gelding by What The Hill, for owner Peter Kleinhans. He paid $2.40 to win.

A few races later, Verruso delivered a longer-priced shot when landing Iammrbrightside N on the line first in a 1:58.2 mile in the first of two AHDC pacing divisions. Verruso found a seat in third as 9-5 favorite Drinkin Again (Geovany Hernandez) surged to take the lead from Lenda Hand Man (Matt Zuccarello). Drinkin Again steadied the tempo to a :57.1 half, after which Verruso lifted Iammrbrightside N into a first-over attack. Iammrbrightside N drew to equal terms with Drinkin Again through three-quarters in 1:26.2 and persisted on the rim through the last quarter mile to hit the finish a winner by a length. Lenda Hand Man took second with Thndrfrmthethron N (Tony Beltrami) rallying from second over for third and Bettor Be Oscar A (Dante Scattolini) closing for fourth.

IAMMRBRIGHTSIDE N REPLAY

Veronica Spicer trains Iammrbrightside N, a 15-year-old stallion by Julius Caesar, for owner Anthony Verruso. He paid $17.40 to win.

Geovany Hernandez rebounded in the final AHDC division after troubled trips in the other two splits when he trounced his competition with 4-5 favorite Lew Hauber in the second pacing split with a 1:55 mile. He launched immediately for the front, opening a three-length lead in a :27 first quarter, and continued on a speed mission that only widened his advantage. After a :55.3 half, Lew Hauber peeled 10 lengths clear of his rivals and clocked three-quarters in 1:24 to then finish in hand. A Stud Named Sam (Tony Beltrami) closed for second, beaten 12 lengths, with Bungalow Bill N (Philip Kozak) rallying for third and Try Line (Charles Longo) closing from last for fourth.

LEW HAUBER REPLAY

Hernandez owns and trains Lew Hauber, a 3-year-old gelding by Sweet Lou. He paid $3.60 to win.

AHDC action resumes at Harrah’s Philadelphia next Sunday (Dec. 14) with pacing and trotting divisions scheduled. First-race post time at Harrah’s Philadelphia is 12:40 p.m. (EST).

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

by Ray Cotolo, for the American Harness Drivers Club