AHDC has races at both Pocono & Harrah’s Philadelphia

WILKES-BARRE, Pa.— Anthony Verruso powered off a pocket ride and Andrew Adamczyk sailed down the pike to capture their respective $10,000 harness racing divisions of the American Harness Drivers Club (AHDC) Trot at Pocono Downs on Sunday night (July 28).

In the first division, Verruso secured a seat with 20-1 longshot Ghibli (E L Titan) behind the pacesetter and zipped up late for the upset in 1:57.1.

Reel Em In (driven by Andrew Adamczyk) cleared the lead out of post 6 with Ghibli in his trail to a :27.2 first quarter. Its A Horse (Yogi Sheridan) pulled first over out of third moving to a :58.4 half and remained a hanging threat over Reel Em In.

The pair stayed in battle through three-quarters in 1:27.3 until Its A Horse began tiring on the spin for home. Ghibli then, off the ground-saving ride, sprung with fresh legs after Reel Em In down the lane to grab the win by a neck at the beam. Dwight Hanover (Bob Hechkoff) also rallied off a pylon ride to finish third and Crazycat (Dante Scattolini) came from second over for fourth.

Symon Spicer trains Ghibli, a 6-year-old mare, for owner Michael Sherman Jr. She paid $42.60 to win.

GHIBLI REPLAY

Adamczyk went an unrelenting mile with Lindsey’s Pride (Credit Winner) to win in the second division by open lengths in 1:56.

Launching out of post 6, Lindsey’s Pride landed on the point before a :27.2 first quarter and stole a breather to a :58 half. My Big Kadillac (Mike Polansky) charged out of fifth to make a move as the tempo slowed, but Adamczyk reengaged Lindsey’s Pride and promptly parked that challenger heading for the backstretch.

Lindsey’s Pride rolled steadily to three-quarters in 1:26.3 and then opened his lead through the stretch, crossing the line 5-1/2 lengths better than ground-saving Lady’s Image (Neil Glasser) in second. Winneress (Anthony Verruso) came from second over for third and Puddin N Pie (Tony Beltrami) took fourth.

Dean Eckley trains Lindsey’s Pride, a 9-year-old gelding, for owner Kathleen Napolitano. He paid $3 to win.

LINDSEY’S PRIDE REPLAY

Harrah’s Philadelphia also hosted two $7,500 AHDC pacing divisions on its Sunday afternoon card, both won in speed missions by Tony Beltrami and Yogi Sheridan.

Beltrami bagged the first AHDC Pace with a pedal-down mile by Saulsbrook Raptor (Shadow Play) to stop the clock in 1:53.1.

Saulsbrook Raptor seized the lead from post 7 to a :26.4 first quarter and kept the tempo hot enough to leave his rivals chasing. Past the half in :56.3, Saulsbrook Raptor expanded his lead to four lengths at three-quarters in 1:24.2 and widened it all through the final quarter.

He crossed the finish eight lengths in front of 4-5 favorite Better Than Some (Frank Tsipouras), who emerged from mid-pack for second. Wilsons Vinner (Raymond Burt) rode the pylons to finish third and Its Showtime (Joe Lee) mounted a mild first-over bid but finished fourth.

Eddie Sager trains Saulsbrook Raptor, a 5-year-old gelding, for owner Hemlock Racing Stable Inc. He paid $18.20 to win.

SAULSBROOK RAPTOR REPLAY

Yogi Sheridan provided a much shorter return in his speedy victory with 1-5 favorite Finally Friday (Tellitlikeitis), who took the second AHDC Pace in 1:53.

Finally Friday circled from the pocket after a :27.2 first quarter to take the lead from Select Friday (Joe Lee). From there, Finally Friday strode away from the field. He clicked past the half in :56 and by three-quarters in 1:24, by which point he held a five-length lead turning for home.

Finally Friday posted a 6-1/4 length win at the line while My Wish Came True (Paul Minore) pushed into the action late for second. Jumping Jake (Pearly Allen) followed suit in third and Select Friday faded to fourth.

Dean Eckley owns and trains Finally Friday, a 4-year-old gelding. He paid $2.40 to win.

FINALLY FRIDAY REPLAY

AHDC action resumes next Sunday (Aug. 4) with pacing divisions at Harrah’s Philadelphia and the next leg of the Summer Trotting Series at Pocono Downs. First post at Harrah’s Philadelphia is 12:40 p.m. (EDT) and 6 p.m. (EDT) at Pocono Downs.

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

by Ray Cotolo, for the AHDC