Sheridan, Beltrami win in AHDC

CHESTER, Pa.— Amateur harness racing drivers Yogi Sheridan powered down the road and Tony Beltrami pounced at the right time to take their respective $7,500 divisions of the American Harness Drivers Club (AHDC) Pace at Harrah’s Philadelphia on Sunday (Sept. 1).

In the first division, Sheridan grabbed the point with Angelo (Custard The Dragon) and drew away to deliver as the 1-5 choice in 1:52.2. He clocked a :27.3 first quarter to take control and gradually scooted away from pocket-chaser Sporty Dragon (driven by Raymond Burt) moving past a :56.1 half. Accelerating to three-quarters in 1:23.2, Angelo opened five lengths on his rivals to shut the door before the straightaway, registering a 6-1/2-length win in the end. Pretty Ricki (Frank Tsipouras) tipped first over into the final turn to give pursuit in second while Sporty Dragon finished third, beaten another five lengths. Meet The Creeper (Bruno Chiodo) rode the pylons to take fourth.

SPORTY DRAGON / YOGI SHERIDAN REPLAY

Dean Eckley trains Angelo, a 5-year-old gelding, for owner Ameer Najor. He paid $2.60 to win.

Tony Beltrami took the second division when capitalizing off a pace duel with odds-on favorite America’s Guest (American Ideal) to notch a 1:54 win.

Beltrami secured a snug seat in the pocket to leader Western Bayama (Frank Tsipouras), who faced pestering company from post-8 leaver Need Ur Opinion (Yogi Sheridan) to a :26.4 first quarter. Sheridan drove on from the death seat while Tsipouras fought back to the pylons, all while Beltrami kept America’s Guest engaged through a scorching half of :54.3.

Western Bayama eventually relinquished the lead into the backstretch to start his hasty retreat while Sheridan worked to keep his hard-used charge chugging moving to three-quarters in 1:23.1. With the leader on the ropes, Beltrami sent America’s Guest into action and seized the lead with ease in the stretch to then kick away to a 3-1/4-length win.

Wilsons Vinner (Raymond Burt) rallied from near last for second while Need Ur Opinion held third and Latest Attraction (Matt Zuccarello) finished fourth.

AMERICA’S GUEST / TONY BELTRAMI REPLAY

Eddie Sager trains America’s Guest, a 9-year-old gelding, for owner Hemlock Racing Stable Inc. He paid $3.80 to win.

AHDC action continues next Sunday (Sept. 8) with pacing divisions at Harrah’s Philadelphia. First-race post time at Harrah’s Philadelphia is 12:40 p.m. (EDT).

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

by Ray Cotolo, for the AHDC