Amateur driver takes AHDC dashes at Philly and Pocono

CHESTER, Pa.— Not only did harness racing amateur driver Yogi Sheridan win both $7,500 divisions of the American Harness Drivers Club (AHDC) Pace at Harrah’s Philadelphia on Sunday afternoon (July 21), but he also shot up the highway to win both divisions of the AHDC Trot at Pocono Downs that same night.

In the first division of the AHDC Pace, Sheridan cleared to the lead with Ship Wreck Beach K just near the half and romped to a 1:54.1 win. Ship Wreck Beach K marched forward after pacesetter Bette Tina (driven by William Clark Jr.) through a :27.2 first quarter and grabbed the lead by the half in :57.1. Sheridan never released on the motor and let Ship Wreck Beach K keep rolling up the backside to widen his advantage to four lengths moving past three-quarters in 1:25.

His lead continued to grow through the lane as Ship Wreck Beach K crossed the line 8-1/2 lengths better than Wilsons Vinner (Raymond Burt), who rallied off a ground-saving trip for second. Bette Tina finished third, beaten another three lengths, and Sand Sniper (Tony Beltrami) recovered from a break at the start to take fourth.

Izzy Estrada trains Ship Wreck Beach K, a 6-year-old gelding, for his Estrada Racing LLC. He paid $5.20 to win.

SHIP WRECK BEACH K REPLAY

Sheridan’s win in the other pacing division came at a much tighter margin but in a faster time when Classifiedmaterial (Bettor’s Delight) lasted through a 1:53.4 mile. Classifiedmaterial crossed to the top past a :26.4 first quarter set by Machlicious (Tony Beltrami) before slowing the tempo to a :56 half. Between I N U (Neil Glasser), the even-money favorite, then mounted a first-over bid out of third up the backside and pressured Classifiedmaterial to three-quarters in 1:24.1 before levelling off through the final turn.

Machlicious then took aim on Classifiedmaterial in the stretch, but Sheridan’s charge rebuffed the bid enough to keep a neck up at the beam. Between I N U held third, another four lengths behind, and My Wish Came True (Paul Minore) rallied for fourth.

Dean Eckley owns and trains Classifiedmaterial, an 8-year-old gelding who paid $10.60 to win.

CLASSIFIEDMATERIAL REPLAY

In the first $10,000 division of the AHDC Trot at Pocono, Sheridan utilized similar speed tactics to score a front-stepping win with Jive Ninety Five (Andover Hall) in 1:57.3.

Leaving from the pylon post, Sheridan pushed for the lead through a :28.3 first quarter before letting All Rise (Tony Beltrami) clear to the lead. But Sheridan promptly circled Jive Ninety Five back towards to the top through a :57.4 half and carried his speed all through the remainder, clicking past three-quarters in 1:26.4 and strolling in a 3-3/4-length winner. My Big Kadillac (Mike Polansky) pushed first over to grab second with Dwight Hanover (Bob Hechkoff) sitting a pylon trip for third and All Rise fading to fourth.

Peter Pellegrino owns and trains Jive Ninety Five, a 7-year-old gelding, who paid $2.60 to win.

JIVE NINETY FIVE REPLAY

Lindsey’s Pride (Credit Winner) and Yogi Sheridan then hit only gas, no brakes in the second division with a 1:55.2 win as the odds-on choice. Once landing on the lead out of post 4, Lindsey’s Pride carved a clip of :27.1, :56.4 and 1:25.1 that got her rivals onto the ropes spinning for home, where he expanded his lead to 4-3/4 lengths in progress to the finish line. Lady’s Image (Neil Glasser) chased from the pocket for second with Puddin N Pie (Tony Beltrami) taking third from Fashion Ken (Bob Hechkoff) in fourth.

Dean Eckley trains Lindsey’s Pride, a 9-year-old gelding, for owner Kathleen Napolitano. He paid $3.20 to win.

LINDSEY’S PRIDE REPLAY

AHDC action resumes on Sunday (July 28) 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) while Pocono Downs starts its card at 6 p.m. (EDT).

by Ray Cotolo, for the AHDC