Action-packed AHDC Summer Series weekend

WILKES-BARRE, Pa.— Yogi Sheridan zipped off a pocket ride with Lionhead (Uncle Peter) to snag harness racing victory in the $15,000 American Harness Drivers Club (AHDC) Summer Series Final at Pocono Downs at Mohegan Pennsylvania on Saturday (Sept. 9) – a weekend that also included a pair of $9,900 AHDC Pace events at Harrah’s Philadelphia on Sunday (Sept. 10).

In the AHDC Summer Trotting Series Final, Sheridan swooped to lead Brownie (driven by Mike Polansky) past a :28.3 first quarter before yielding control past the stands to stablemate Drazzmatazz (Frank Tsipouras). Drazzmatazz then led the field to a :58.3 half as Wineress (Anthony Verruso) continued plugging uncovered on the rim to apply mild pressure on the leader to three-quarters in 1:28.2. Winneress folded through the final turn while Lionhead revved from the pocket and fired after Drazzmatazz in the lane, downing his stablemate by a neck at the end of a 1:58.1 mile as Brownie tried to close but settled for third. Southwind Frost (Bob Hechkoff), the 2-1 favorite, finished fourth.

LIONHEAD REPLAY

Terry Morgan owns and trains Lionhead, a 7-year-old gelding. Off the second choice, he paid $6.20 to win.

Harrah’s Philadelphia hosted a pair of AHDC Paces towards the tail of its 14-race card Sunday. Wyatt Long swept both dashes starting off a pocket ride in the first division to take Never Easy Z Tam (Rockin Image) to the winner’s circle after a 1:53.2 mile.

Major Pocket A (Frank Tsipouras), off the 7-5 favorite, grabbed the lead from post 5 while Never Easy Z Tam secured the pocket to a :28.3 first quarter. With no challengers looming to the half, Major Pocket A snagged a breather and tripped the beam in :58 seconds before charging up the backside. His rivals gave chase as Major Pocket A zoomed to three-quarters in 1:25.2 attempting to bottom the barrel, though Never Easy Z Tam stayed intent on his tail spinning for home. Never Easy Z Tam lunged after Major Pocket A through the lane to take the win by a length while Skyway Billy (Tony Beltrami) finished third another four lengths behind. Mr Kelly (Jacob Stillwell), another five lengths back, finished fourth.

NEVER EASY Z TAM REPLAY

Alexandra Goldin trains and co-owns Never Easy Z Tam, a 5-year-old stallion, with Brittany Jessop. He paid $7.80 to win.

Long took a longer route to victory in the other AHDC Pace when closing from near last to win with So Take That (Camluck)  in 1:55.1.

Gold Star Yoder (Jim King Solomon) scorched a :26.4 first quarter out of post 7 with Sporty Dragon (Raymond Burt) in tow. Solomon settled Gold Star Yoder to the half, yet the tempo stayed honest as the clock clicked in :55.1. The hot first quarter took its toll as Gold Star Yoder began to tire up the backside, prompting 1-2 favorite The Downtown Bus (Anthony Verruso) to launch out of third and try to seize the lead. Gold Star Yoder stayed in front past three-quarters in 1:24.3 and maintained a slight lead before caving at the top of the stretch, all while the backfield readied to fire. So Take That came charging swiftest from third over and outfooted pocket-sitter Sporty Dragon in the lane to win by three-quarter lengths with Bargain Shopper (Jacob Stillwell) coming from second over for third. The Downtown Bus settled for fourth.

SO TAKE THAT REPLAY

Alexandra Goldin also trains and owns So Take That, a 14-year-old gelding. He paid $9.80 to win.

With the Summer Trotting Series complete, the AHDC readies for its Fall Trotting Series set to begin on Saturday, Sept. 16 at Freehold Raceway. Freehold Raceway will host weekly preliminaries for the series through Oct. 14, with Pocono Downs then hosting a pair on Saturday, Oct. 21 and Saturday, Oct. 28. The Fall Trotting Series will then alternate venues between Sundays at Harrah’s Philadelphia and Saturdays at Freehold Raceway through to the series final scheduled for Sunday, Dec. 31 at Harrah’s Philadelphia.

The AHDC, separate from its trotting series, will also hold pacing divisions at Harrah’s Philadelphia through the meet. Horsepeople and members of the club are encouraged to stay up-to-date with the Harrah’s Philadelphia condition sheet for either entry into divisions or for when divisions will be carded.

For complete race results from Pocono Downs, click here: US Trotting results.

For complete race results from Harrah’s Philadelphia, click here: US Trotting results.

by Ray Cotolo, for AHDC