CHESTER PA – Mac’s Delight (Bettor’s Delight) overcame a 22-day layoff, the outside post in the field of six, and having to come his last half in :53.2 uncovered, but he checked all those boxes in winning the $15,000 fast-class harness racing pacing feature in 1:49 Sunday afternoon (July 14) at Harrah’s Philadelphia.
The gelding was reserved in fifth by driver Corey Callahan as Harrington invader Sweet Angel Boy put up early fractions of :25.4 and :54.2. Mac’s Delight was underway raw coming off turn two, streaked up to challenge the leader by the 1:22.1 three-quarters, and looked a likely winner when he opened a clear lead nearing headstretch. But Sweet Angel Boy was quite game, and Mac’s Delight had to dig in to hang on to a neck margin at the finish for Team Cancelliere, trainer Tom and owner John.
MAC’S DELIGHT REPLAY
A neck was also the winning margin in the $14,000 fast-class subfeature pace, with Camara Moment (Control The Moment) proving most photogenic in 1:51.4. The winner, driven by David Miller for trainer Michael Fiumenero and owners James Burke, Mickey Sudar, Brenton Harris, and Dewitt Stables, also had to attack via the uncovered route, but a back half of :54.1 was enough to let him work past pacesetter Wager On Me late.
CAMARA MOMENT REPLAY
Hall Of Famers David Miller and Tim Tetrick each won three times on the card.
Joe Lee pulled two massive upsets and Yogi Sheridan brushed and crushed to win their respective $7,500 divisions of the American Harness Drivers Club (AHDC) at Harrah’s Philadelphia on Sunday (July 14).
In the lone trotting division, Lee went pillar to post with Puddin N Pie (Yankee Glide) – the longest shot on the board – to win in 1:57.3. No challengers came for Puddin N Pie, who trotted on a mission through a clip of :29, :58.4 and 1:27.4. Puddin N Pie widened his lead all through the mile and strolled in a five-length winner over pocket-chaser Lionhead (driven by Yogi Sheridan). Importer Exporter (Tony Beltrami) closed from last for third, beaten another five lengths, and Pretty Dame Speedy (Neil Glasser) settled for fourth.
Howard Birney owns and trains Puddin N Pie, a 10-year-old gelding. He paid $138.60 to win.
Lee later won in the nightcap also going down the road with longshot Sports Hero (Sportswriter) in 1:53.3 to take the second division of the AHDC Pace. Sports Hero took over command to a :27.1 first quarter, slowed proceedings to a :56 half and then rebuffed a challenge from odds-on favorite Ship Wreck Beach K (Yogi Sheridan) to three-quarters in 1:24 in progress to a three-length victory. Ship Wreck Beach K held second while pocket-sitter Duckies Dynasty (Neil Glasser) faded to third and Pro Beach (Anthony Verruso) gave chase in fourth.
Ivan Llopez trains Sports Hero, an 8-year-old gelding, for owner Jaypaul Hoover. He paid $43.60 to win.
Although he finished runner-up in the other two AHDC events, Sheridan struck the gold in the first division of the AHDC Pace with 1-2 favorite Major Makover (Art Major) crossing the line first in 1:55. Sheridan sat third with Major Makover while Fred’s Night (Frank Tsipouras) pushed to the lead past a :27.2 first quarter and then crawled to a :57 half.
With the speed settling, Sheridan activated his charge and swooped to the lead up the backside, clicking by three-quarters in 1:25. Major Makover stayed strong on the lead through the lane then to win by 1-1/2 lengths over Ollie’s Ztam (Kyle Walters) closing into second. Paduka N (Anthony Verruso), after leaving the gate and staying close to the speed, finished third and Wilsons Vinner (Raymond Burt) took fourth.
Izzy Estrada trains Major Makover, a 6-year-old gelding, for his Estrada Racing LLC. He paid $3 to win.
AHDC action continues at Harrah’s Philadelphia next Sunday (July 21). First-race post time at Harrah’s Philadelphia is 12:40 p.m. (EDT).
Racing resumes Wednesday at 12:25, with the second prelim round for two-year-old pacing fillies in both the Pennsylvania Sire Stakes and Pennsylvania Stallion Series. Free Philly programs are or will be available at www.phha.org.
For complete race results, click here: US Trotting results.
From the PHHA / Harrah’s Philadelphia