Sheridan, Calabrese win AHDC trots

WILKES-BARRE, Pa.— Yogi Sheridan vaulted from off the speed while John Calabrese made all of the speed in their respective $10,000 divisions of the American Harness Drivers Club (AHDC) Trot at Pocono Downs on Sunday night (July 27).

Sheridan found the winner’s circle in the first division with Lionhead in a 1:57.2 mile. Lionhead settled into fourth behind a battle on the front between 59-1 shot Awol Hanover (driven by Steven Reisenweaver) and 9-5 favorite Steel (Tony Ciuffetelli) through early fractions of :28.1 and :57.1. BBC Sportsboy (Bob Hechkoff) made the first move after new leader Steel in the backstretch, and Sheridan angled into the second-over perch on the march to three-quarters in 1:26.3. Steel held the lead turning for home until Sheridan lifted Lionhead to the center of the track, and the latter slid by in the lane to post a 1-3/4-length win. Awol Hanover held third another six lengths behind and Game On Girls (Tony Beltrami) took fourth.

LIONHEAD REPLAY

Dawn Anderson trains Lionhead, a 9-year-old gelding by Uncle Peter, for owner Terri Morgan. He paid $10.40 to win.

John Calabrese made all with even-money favorite Cal Miles N Shell in the second AHDC Trot, stopping the clock in 1:53.2. Calabrese faced minimal challenge by cutting a clip of :27.2, :56.3 and 1:24 to leave his rivals straggling into the stretch while he romped to a four-length win over pocket-sitter Pembroke Regal (Tony Beltrami). Six Sticks (Yogi Sheridan) grabbed third, another four lengths behind, with Eddie L (Bob Hechkoff) fourth.

Calabrese trains Cal Miles N Shell, a 5-year-old gelding by Trixton, for Calabrese Farms LLC. He paid $4.20 to win.

For complete race results, click here: US Trotting results

Earlier in the day, Sheridan scored in the first of two $7,500 AHDC Pace events at Harrah’s Philadelphia with 3-5 favorite Ever M in a 1:55.1 mile. Ever M fired down the road off a modest opening tempo of :28.1 and :59.1 and hustled for three-quarters in 1:26.4. He held firm down the stretch to win by 2-1/2 lengths over Bizys Beatle (Geovany Hernandez), who snatched second from pocket-sitter Pacing Major N. Redding Hanover (Tony Beltrami) finished another five lengths behind in fourth.

Izzy Estrada trains Ever M, a 5-year-old gelding by Racing Hill, for owner Estrada Racing LLC. He paid $3.40 to win.

Geovany Hernandez later delivered as the 2-1 favorite with Rojan’s Way in a 1:55.3 mile in the other AHDC Pace division. He parked the mile while pressing pacesetter Ferdinand A (William Harrison) through splits of :27.3, :56.2 and 1:25. Rojan’s Way continued clawing forward and successfully overhauled Ferdinand A in the stretch to win by a length. Born Brilliant (Tony Beltrami) rallied for third and Fred’s Night (Michael Dailey) took fourth.

Hernandez owns and trains Rojan’s Way, a 9-year-old gelding by Well Said. He paid $6.60 to win.

AHDC action resumes next Sunday (Aug. 3) with pacing divisions at Harrah’s Philadelphia and trotting divisions at Pocono Downs. First-race post time at Harrah’s Philadelphia is 12:40 p.m. (EDT) and 6 p.m. (EDT) at Pocono.

For complete race results, click here: US Trotting results

by Ray Cotolo, for the AHDC