Big win for Vendor Bill at Philly AHDC Trot

CHESTER, Pa.— Maria De Bruijn vaulted Vendor Bill (Credit Winner) around dueling harness racing horses into the final turn to snag the $9,900 American Harness Drivers Club (AHDC) Trot at Harrah’s Philadelphia on Sunday afternoon (Jul. 2).

VENDOR BILL REPLAY

Leaving from post 6, De Bruijn floated Vendor Bill into fourth as Campbellini (driven by Dante Scattolini) yielded command to Big Sky Ex (Yogi Sheridan) through a :28.2 first quarter. Big Sky Ex soon endured pressure along the rim from even-money favorite Henderson Seelster (Neil Glasser), who was left parked after recovering from a break in stride at the start.

Henderson Seelster pushed Big Sky Ex up the backstretch while De Bruijn had ample room to swing Vendor Bill off the pegs and catch brief cover. Past three-quarters in 1:27.2, De Bruijn swung Vendor Bill into action and seized the lead off the bottom corner. Vendor Bill slid clear to a length victory in a 1:58.2 mile with Big Sky Ex second, Masster Blue (Anthony Verruso) third off a pylon-skimming drive and Henderson Seelster back in fourth.

Michel Heijnen conditions Vendor Bill, a 5-year-old gelding, for owners MR Racing Inc. and Maria De Bruijn. He paid $17.20 to win.

Sunday’s AHDC leg was a bonus preliminary added to the club’s Summer Series. Pocono Downs at Mohegan Pennsylvania will host the next preliminary of the Summer Series as scheduled next Sunday (July 9). First-race post time at Pocono Downs is 6 p.m. (EDT).

For complete race results, click here.

by Ray Cotolo, for AHDC