Amateur drivers win big in AHDC action

CHESTER, PA — Harness racing amateur drivers Joe Lee and Bruce Baker both vaulted into the race late to win their respective $7,500 divisions of the American Harness Drivers Club (AHDC) events at Harrah’s Philadelphia on Sunday (June 16).

In the pace, Joe Lee surged into tired seas and sailed to a 1:55.3 win behind Select Friday (Rockin Image).

Lee found himself the beneficiary of a fierce first-half squabble between Western Bayama (driven by Pearly Allen) on the lead and Never Easy Z Tam (Alexandra Goldin) in the death seat. The pair scorched early fractions of :27 and :55.2 through their battle before hitting fumes in the backstretch.

Odds-on favorite Hound On The Beach (Yogi Sheridan) kicked from his second-over ride to race three wide to three-quarters in 1:24.3 but failed to slingshot around the unrelenting dueling duo. Lee meanwhile just looked for racetrack to give Select Friday clearance and, once straight, he stormed to the front and grabbed the win by 1-1/4 lengths over closing Transfer The Era (Tony Beltrami). Bette Tina (William Clark Jr.) sat a pocket trip for third and Never Easy Z Tam held fourth.

Michael Posner trains Select Friday, a 6-year-old gelding, for owner Chad Colasanti. He paid $9.20 to win.

SELECT FRIDAY REPLAY

Bruce Baker capitalized in the trot to reap the ashes of an overzealous pacesetter with Love This Bar (Bar Hopping) to score a 1:59 win.

Infinite Zette (Frank Tsipouras) zipped for the lead from the pylon post and encountered no challengers as he clocked a clip of :27.4, :57.1 and 1:27.2. However he moved for home fairly level while some of his pursuers had some trot to spare. Love This Bar came charging with the most momentum after sitting a ground-saving trip and overhauled pocket-zipper Crazy Cat (Dante Scattolini) to grab the win at the beam by three-quarter lengths. Its A Horse (Yogi Sheridan) made a first-over move to the final turn but only managed third and Infinite Zette held fourth.

Robert Ginsburg Jr. trains Love This Bar, a 6-year-old gelding, for owner James Craparotta. He paid $6.20 to win.

LOVE THIS BAR REPLAY

AHDC action is scheduled for next Sunday (June 23) at Harrah’s Philadelphia. First-race post time is 12:40 p.m. (EDT).

For complete race results, click here: US Trotting Results

by Ray Cotolo, for the AHDC