Last week in the American Harness Drivers Club Trot at Freehold Raceway, John Calabrese and Shoemaker Hanover had road trouble and finished off the board. In this week's edition, Calabrese benefited from a perfect covered journey to rally to a 1:59.3 triumph over last week's AHDC winner Drazzmatazz.
A late scratch and just six starters benefited Drazzmatazz, as driver Tony Verruso hustled the veteran to the lead from post six. The :28.4 first panel forced the rest of the field to settle in behind the leader.
Heading to the halfway point Dave Offenberg moved the betting favourite Broadway Bruiser off the pylons and charged alongside Drazzmatazz. They raced as a team by the half in :59.4 and they were still heads apart as they passed the third stanza in 1:30 before Broadway Bruiser began to tire. That development allowed Shoemaker Hanover, who was traveling second along the pylons, to have a clear shot at the leader and when they rumbled for home Calabrese's trotter up for the challenge. Shoemaker Hanover rallied to a solid one-length victory over Drazzmatazz, with the show spot going to Exuberance and driver Paul Minore.
A seven-year-old son of Cantab Hall, Shoemaker Hanover is owned and trained by Tracy Tarantino. Sent off as second choice in the field he returned a $6.40 win mutuel.
(AHDC)