Sheridan doubles, Tsipouras upsets in AHDC

CHESTER, Pa.— Yogi Sheridan snatched two wins and Frank Tsipouras scored a harness racing victory at double-digit odds through the three $7,500 divisions of the American Harness Drivers Club (AHDC) Pace at Harrah’s Philadelphia on Sunday (Sept. 15).

Sheridan pounced off a ground-saving ride with Select Friday (Rockin Image) in the first AHDC division to stop the clock in 1:53.4.

Meet The Creeper (driven by Bruno Chiodo) fired for the lead to a :27.3 first quarter while Sheridan settled into fourth with Select Friday. Sheridan stayed in position, along with everyone else, to a :56.2 half and remained steady as 9-5 favorite Paprike Blue Chip (William Clark Jr.) broke rank and launched a first-over attack in the backstretch. Meet The Creeper responded to the challenge and kept Paprike Blue Chip parked to three-quarters in 1:24.4 and rebuffed that rival spinning for home.

As Paprike Blue Chip faltered, Meet The Creeper only moved evenly to the finish while Sheridan fed Select Friday racetrack and darted by with fresh legs to a 3-1/2-length win. Sand Sniper (Tony Beltrami) closed for second while Meet The Creeper held third and Wilsons Vinner (Raymond Burt) took fourth.

Donald Maiorano trains Select Friday, a 6-year-old gelding by Rockin Image, for owner Chad Colasanti. He paid $6.80 to win.

SELECT FRIDAY REPLAY

Sheridan romped in the last division with 1-9 choice Aussie Scooter A (Mach Three) in 1:51.4. Aussie Scooter A sat third as Paduka N (Juan Cano) sped to a :27 first quarter before folding to Hes Rockin Ralphie (Pearly Allen), who jetted to the lead and to the half in :54.3. Once the speed settled, Sheridan sent Aussie Scooter A for the top, seized the lead heading to three-quarters in 1:23 and spurted away. He crossed the beam on a widening lead capped at 11-1/2 lengths over Hes Rockin Ralphie in second. Bette Tina (William Clark Jr.) rode the pylons to finish third and National Sport (Bruce Baker) closed from last for fourth.

Dean Eckley trains Aussie Scooter A, a 7-year-old gelding by Mach Three, for owner Martin Valentic. He paid $2.20 to win.

AUSSIE SCOOTER REPLAY

In between Sheridan’s double, Frank Tsipouras delivered a front-stepping win with 24-1 shot Racing Money (Racing Hill) in a 1:54.3 mile. Tsipouras planted Racing Money on the point to a :29 first quarter and maintained his speed as Ship Wreck Beach K (Yogi Sheridan), the 7-5 favorite, sat stuck on the rim. Racing Money stole a breather to a :58.3 half and hit the accelerator up the backstretch, clocking three-quarters in 1:26.2. Racing Money continued to fight all through the final turn and the stretch to hold a neck in front of pocket-surging Its Showtime (Juan Cano) in second and Ship Wreck Beach K’s persistence in third. Sunshine’s Finest (William Clark Jr.) took fourth.

Scott Stranahan trains Racing Money, a 5-year-old gelding by Racing Hill, for owner Nicola Smith. He paid $50.60 to win.

AHDC action resumes next Saturday (Sept. 21) with divisions for the Trotting Series at Pocono Downs. Harrah’s Philadelphia also has the box open for divisions of the AHDC Pace next Sunday (Sept. 22). First-race post time at Pocono is 1 p.m. (EDT) and 12:40 p.m. at Harrah’s Philadelphia.

For complete race results, click here: US Trotting results.

by Ray Cotolo, for the AHDC