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Two trotting divisions of the American Harness Drivers Club Series went to post today (May 15) at Freehold Raceway and when the judges deemed each race official Tony Verruso and Mark Shullstrom each won their respective $9,000 divisions; Verruso with Slated To Win in 1:58 and Schullsrom with Inukchuk Chuck in 2:00.1.
In the first split Verruso sent Slated To Win to the lead from post two and they led the competition through the first stanza in :28.4. Despite being challenged Verruso was comfortable as he passed the half in :58.
Ooh Rah (John Calabrese) was the first to move off the pylons but he ran into road trouble behind some stalled trotters as the field headed for the three quarters. At the top of the lane Slated To Win was comfortable and was able to rebuff a late charge from Always A Good Time (Joe Faraldo) before bracing for Southwind Frost (Bob Hechkoff) who was enjoying a two-hole journey. In the stretch Slated To Win and Southwind Frost were heads apart all the way to th
For the second time in less than a month Tony Verruso and Slated To Win scored a victory in the American Harness Drivers Club Trot at Freehold Raceway.
Today (March 6) they were victorious in 2:00.1. Three weeks ago, Verruso guided the five-year-old Uncle Peter gelding to a victory in an earlier leg of the trotting series also at the New Jersey half-miler.
When the gate sprung in today s contest Verruso gunned his trotter to the lead from the six-hole and they looped Always A Good Time and driver Joe Faraldo, who had started from post four.
“My horse leaves good and I fired him up when the gate sprung and he trotted to right around Faraldo s horse and we had command before the quarter,” Verruso said via phone after the race. “Once on the lead he was on the bit so I let him ramble.
Trainer Tom Fanning had a big day at Freehold Raceway on Saturday (February 27), winning three races on the 13-race card.
Fanning won with all three of his starters. He scored his first win in race 6, as Tisadream N just got up for the victory as the 2/5 favourite over Dreamfair Charro. Austin Siegelman had the winning drive. In the seventh race, he scored an upset, as 31/1 mare Ashtini defeated the boys in a gate-to-wire score with driver Eric Abbatiello. Two races later, Fanning completed the hat trick as Betting Exchange went gate-to-wire as the favourite. Siegelman once again had the drive.
The weather was cold on Saturday (Feb. 13) at Freehold Raceway for the American Harness Drivers Club Trot. Driver Tony Verruso struggled to keep his hands warm on that frigid afternoon when he tried to settle down Slated To Win, which was no easy task. But Verruso won the battle and after a :28.4 first quarter the veteran trotter eased off the bit and was manageable.
“He certainly was fired up and my hands were getting cold trying to ease him off the bit,” Verruso said. “And he was lugging me all the way to the half but after that I could drive him with two fingers.cold ones at that, I might add.”