John Calabrese launched down the road and Pearly Allen powered to first in rein to their respective trotters, winning a pair of $12,329 races for the American Harness Drivers Club (AHDC) at Freehold Raceway on Saturday afternoon, May 11.
In the first division, Calabrese cleared the lead from post eight with Shoemaker Hanover (pictured above) and stayed on the pedal to a 1:59 win.
Shoemaker Hanover grabbed command from Call Me Thefireman (Anthony Verruso) past a :29 first quarter and coasted unfazed to a :59.1 half and 1:28.3 three-quarters. Call Me Thefireman started to swell in the pocket through the turn and 7-5 favourite Beacon Beach (Joe Lee) went charging three-wide with the most momentum after Shoemaker Hanover late. Shoemaker Hanover held firm to the beam though, keeping Beacon Beach at bay by three-quarters of a length while Call Me Thefireman settled for third and Grafenberg (Joe Faraldo) sat a pylon trip for fourth.
Calabrese also trains Shoemaker Hanover, an 11-year-old stallion by Cantab Hall, for his Calabrese Farms LLC and Michelle Rickey. The trotter paid $12.80 to win.
Allen later scored with Bangin In The Hall as the third longest shot on the board with a victorious first-over push in 2:01.1.
Spirit Of Success (Calabrese) swept to the lead from post seven with Lil Day Drinkin (Mickey Goldin) settling for the pocket and Allen sitting third with Bangin In The Hall. Past a :59.4 half, Allen made the move to strike and kicked first-over to three-quarters in 1:30.1. Bangin In The Hall inched forward against Spirit Of Success through the final turn until eventually downing the tempo-setter and pulling clear to a 1-1/2-length win. Masster Blue (Lee) took third and Lil Day Drinkin, the 5-2 favourite, faded to fourth.
Dawn Anderson trains and co-owns Bangin In The Hall, a five-year-old gelding by Conway Hall, with Thomas Bradford. Bangin In The Hall paid $30.80 to win.
AHDC action continues next Saturday, May 18 at Freehold Raceway. First-race post time is 12:30 p.m. (EDT).
(AHDC)