WILKES-BARRE, Pa.- Tony Beltrami earned his fourth straight win in the American Harness Drivers Club (AHDC) Trot on the final day of the 2025 season at Pocono Downs on Saturday (November 22) during a busy AHDC weekend.
Beltrami delivered 9-5 second choice Brave By Design (Walter) to a 1:58 win in the only $10,000 dash of the AHDC Trot. After finishing third behind leader Youmeandwhiskey (driven by Geovany Hernandez) with opening fractions of :28.2 and :58.2, Beltrami lifted Brave By Design off the pins and rolled to the front to take the three-quarter lead in 1:28.1. Brave By Design then held firm down the stretch when faced late with a 4-5 favorite Snowman Hanover and scored a neck win with Youmeandwhiskey a further seven lengths behind in third. Keystone Thunder (Matt Zuccarello) faltered after a pocket trip for fourth place.
COURAGEOUS BY DESIGN REPEAT
Maria Alvarez trains Brave By Design, a 6-year-old gelding by Walner, for owner George Dremonas. He paid $5.60 to win.
Following the final day at Pocono, Harrah’s Philadelphia hosted three $7,500 divisions of the AHDC Pace on Sunday’s (Nov. 23) card, with Dante Scattolini, Anthony Verruso and Yogi Sheridan taking wins in their respective sprints.
Scattolini scored from the speed in the first AHDC Pace with Pinebush Lifesaver in a 1:57.4 mile. He sat fifth on a first quarter score of :27.1 from Rockinwiththebest (Yogi Sheridan) and was called into action when pocket sitter Hot Stuff (Charlie Longo) broke stride and scattered the backfield heading into the half in :56.4. Pinebush Lifesaver pressed on, making steady gains into third, almost three-quarters in 1:26.2, as Rockinwiththebest tired of the lead. Scattolini kept Pinebush Lifesaver focused and recovered a three-length deficit as he spun home, then stayed clear for a 1-1/4-length win. Flying Tiger (Michael Shults), the even-money favorite, closed from last place to second, while Bargain Shopper (Anthony Verruso) finished third and Rockinwiththebest tired to fourth.
Bryson Dunning trains Pinebush Lifesaver, a 7-year-old gelding by Life Up Front, for owner PT Stable. He paid $13 to win.
Anthony Verruso jumped after a pocket ride for a 1:54.3 victory with Drinkin Again in the second AHDC Pace. Verruso followed pacer Lew Hauver (Geovany Hernandez) as he posted clips of :27, :56.4 and 1:25.1 before going on the attack. Drinkin Again jumped and zoomed past the tiring Lew Hauver in the stretch to take a length victory over the fast-closing Redding Hanover (Joe Lee) in second place. Try Line (Charlie Longo) rallied from the middle of the pack for third, while Costa Diva (Cote Keim) was on a pylon trip for fourth.
Philip Jasper owns and trains Drinkin Again, an 11-year-old stallion by Real Artist. He paid $10 to win.
Yogi Sheridan took the final AHDC Pace split after a first-over push from Hashtag Money, winning in a mile of 1:54.3. Sheridan tipped Hashtag Money off the cones after a :27 first quarter and advanced to pacer Better Than Some (Frank Tsipouras) en route to a :56 half. Hashtag Money loomed ahead and seized command with a three-quarter lead in 1:24 and ran briskly to the line to take the win by a neck. Bizys Beatle (Geovany Hernandez) rose from near last to second, while Everbridge (Joe Lee) moved from last for third. Pocket sitter Revolver N (Michael Shults) settled for fourth place.
Ivan Llopez owns and trains Hashtag Money, a 6-year-old gelding by Sunshine Beach. He paid $10 to win.
With Pocono set for the 2025 season, AHDC action resumes next Sunday (Nov. 30) at Harrah’s Philadelphia with divisions from the AHDC Pace. The post time for the first race at Harrah’s Philadelphia is 12:40 PM (EST).
For full race results, click here: American trotting results.
From the PHHA/Pocono Downs
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