Glasser sweeps AHDC Paces

CHESTER, Pa.— Neil Glasser swept the $7,500 harness racing divisions of the American Harness Drivers Club (AHDC) Pace while Anthony Verruso won the lone $7,500 dash for the AHDC Trot on Sunday (Nov. 17) at Harrah’s Philadelphia.

Glasser powered in the back half with Boiler Maker (Sweet Lou) to win the first division of the AHDC Pace in 1:55.1.

Western Bayama (driven by Frank Tsipouras) fired for the front along with Wilsons Vinner (Raymond Burt), who raced wide to a : 27.3 first quarter and parked while losing ground to a :56.3 half. As he faltered, Glasser activated Boiler Maker from sixth and charged up the rim in the backstretch to reach within a length of Western Bayama passing three-quarters in 1:25.4.

Boiler Maker fought relentlessly spinning through the turn and slid forward upon straightening to dispose Western Bayama by 1-1/4 lengths at the line. Bungalow Bill (Philip Kozak) sat a ground-saving trip for third and 4-5 favorite Phelgon (Geovany Hernandez) chased from a pocket trip for fourth.

George Lange trains Boiler Maker, a 6-year-old gelding, for owner Scott Brockwell. He paid $17.20 to win.

Again kicking from off the speed, Glasser won the second AHDC Pace with 14-1 shot Urban Renewal (Cam’s Card Shark) in a 1:54.4 mile.

Hes Rockin Ralphie (Frank Tsipouras), the slight 8-5 favorite, rolled to the lead before a :27.3 first quarter and coasted to a :57.1 half. Off that breather, Rogers Image (Yogi Sheridan) bravened from the pocket spot and pulled to attack up the backstretch while Glasser and Urban Renewal sat third to the inside. The top pair battled to three-quarters in 1:25.2, all through the far turn and into the stretch, but the fresh legs of the next two in the inside trail charged most furiously. Urban Renewal built the most momentum coming for the line and grabbed a head win from Master Miki (Geovany Hernandez) in second while Hes Rockin Ralphie held third from Rogers Image in fourth.

Mike Watson trains Urban Renewal, an 11-year-old gelding for owner Glasser Racing LLC. He paid $31.60 to win.

The single AHDC Trot division on the Sunday card went to pocket-pouncer Big Nudge (Donato Hanover) and driver Anthony Verruso in a 1:57.3 mile.

Verruso planted his charge behind pacesetter and 6-5 favorite Bank Box Treasure (William Clark Jr.) to a :28.1 first quarter and followed from that seat through a :58.2 half and three-quarters in 1:28. Lionhead (Yogi Sheridan) pushed uncovered from a parked mile to press Bank Box Treasure to the final turn and kept fighting into the stretch, though Big Nudge blasted out of the pocket once given racetrack and surged to a 1-3/4 length win. Lionhead finished second with Archibald (Geovany Hernandez) taking third and Bank Box Treasure faded to fourth.

Symon Spicer trains Big Nudge, a 7-year-old gelding, for owners George Beck, Michael Sherman Jr. and Veronica Spicer. He paid $7.80 to win.

AHDC action continues on Saturday (Nov. 23) with the next leg of the  club’s fall trotting series at Freehold Raceway. First-race post time at Freehold is 12:30 p.m. (EST).

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

by Ray Cotolo, for the AHDC