Polansky, Reisenweaver victorious in AHDC Trots

FREEHOLD, N.J.— Mike Polansky and Steven Reisenweaver both braved through the mug and over the “sloppy” going to post front-stepping harness racing victories in their respective $7,500 divisions of the American Harness Drivers Club (AHDC) Trot on Saturday (Sep 28) at Freehold Raceway.

Polansky delivered My Big Kadillac (Kadabra) to a slight 6-1 surprise in a 1:59.2 mile in the first division.

He grabbed the lead with My Big Kadillac out of post 5 to a :28.4 first quarter and faced little pressure to a :59.1 half.

Lionhead (driven by Yogi Sheridan) angled first over from fourth moving for the backstretch and inched forward moving to three-quarters in 1:29.2, though quickly levelled entering the final turn.

My Big Kadillac spun for home then with just a challenge from pocket-riding Ghibli (Anthony Verruso), who pushed but could not down the leader late and settled for second beaten three-quarters of a length. Hunters Gal (Paul Minore), the 2-1 favorite, saved ground to take third and Lionhead held fourth.

MY BIG KADILLAC REPLAY

Mike Polansky owns and trains My Big Kadillac, a 10-year-old gelding by Kadabra. He paid $14.20 to win.

Steven Reisenweaver posted a stouter upset in the second division when romping with 10-1 shot Awol Hanover (Donato Hanover) in 2:00.3. Reisenweaver parked 2-1 favorite Bacardi (Yogi Sheridan) after a :30 first quarter, and the pair stayed in mild battle to a 1:01 half. Awol Hanover began peeling away from Bacardi up the backside and clicked by three-quarters in 1:30.3 with no other challengers looming. Bacardi remained even from the wide trip on the turn for home and fought only with the rest of the field while Awol Hanover fled the scene to a 4-3/4-length win. Masster Blue (Paul Minore) followed Bacardi’s cover but settled for third and Archibald (Anthony Verruso) came from third over for fourth.

AWOL HANOVER REPLAY

Steven Reisenweaver owns and trains Awol Hanover, a 10-year-old gelding by Donato Hanover. He paid $23.60 to win.

The AHDC Fall Trotting Series shifts back to Pocono Downs next Saturday (Oct. 5). First-race post time at Pocono Downs is 1 p.m. (EDT).

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

by Ray Cotolo, for the AHDC