Beltrami wins, Deadheat for Ahle and Verruso

PLAINS, Pa.–Two $11,000 divisions in the American Harness Drivers Club series went to post today at Mohegan Sun Pocono and when the judges hung the official signs Lou Beltrami was victorious with Crazy About Pat (Crazed) in the first harness racing division while Jonathan Ahle and Tony Verruso shared honors in a dead-heat in the other.

In his split Beltrami overcame the eight-hole with Crazy About Pat when he sent his charge to the front despite starting from the eight hole and they passed the quarter pole in 28 seconds.

After tapping the breaks Beltrami got Crazy About Pat lead his competition to the half in :58 despite Joey Pro (Tony Verruso) tight on his back.

The pair were still one-two as the zipped by
the three quarters in 1:27 and when they headed for paydirt Crazy About Pat dug in and rebuffed Joey Pro’s challenge and held on for a neck triumph in 1:57.1, Three lengths farther back  in third place was Tony Ciuffetelli with Trump This.

CRAZY ABOUT PAT REPLAY

Crazy About Pat, a 12-year-old Crazed gelding, is owned by P T Stable and trained by Paul Fusco. He paid $17.80 for the win.

In the other split a harness racing rarity occurred when two horses hit the finish line simultaneously. Big Nudge (Donato Hanover), with Tony Verruso at the controls, was the betting favorite from post three and they allowed Jonathan Ahle and Walkingintherain (Cash Hall) a near perfect trip where they followed cover from the start and then rallied late to collar Big Nudge at the wire and finish simultaneously with him in a 1:57.2 clocked mile.

It was a near triple dead-heat when Pearly Allen and Silvermass Volo came charging late and finished third in a tight three-horse photo, just a head behind the top two.

BIG NUDGE/WALKINGINTHERAIN REPLAY

Walkingintherain is owned by Peter Venturini and trained  by Brian Malone.. He paid $4.20 for the shared win..
Big Nudge is owned by George Beck, Michael Sherman, Jr, and Symon Spicer and trained by Spicer. He paid $2.60 for  win

For complete results click here.

by John Manzi, for NAADA