Shults, Burt, Chiodo take out Philly AHDC Paces

CHESTER, Pa.— Michael Shults and Raymond Burt delivered a pair of favorites while Bruno Chiodo scored a 17-1 upset to win in their respective $7,500 harness racing divisions of the American Harness Drivers Club (AHDC) Pace at Harrah’s Philadelphia on Sunday (Oct. 27).

Shults took Bionic (Always B Miki) pillar to post in the first AHDC dash, stopping the clock in 1:55. Bionic easily crossed from post 7 to the top heading to a :28 first quarter and strolled through the remainder, clocking a :58 half before accelerating to three-quarters in 1:25.2. He built ample cushion on the spin for home to cross the line a length better than Lincoln Boulevard (driven by Bruce Baker) closing for second. Pocket-sitter Meet The Creeper (Bruno Chiodo) gave way but held third and Sporty Dragon (Raymond Burt) finished fourth.

BIONIC REPLAY

Michael Shults trains Bionic, a 6-year-old gelding, for owner Blazer One Racing. He paid $6.20 to win.

Raymond Burt took his victory with A Stud Named Sam (A Stud Named Sue) in the second AHDC division via disqualification, moving from second to first to win in 1:56.2.

Burt landed in third out of post 6 and chased pacesetter Easy Check (Ryan Inglis) through early fraction of :28 and :57.2, but found himself shuffled as Skyway Billy (Bruce Baker) rushed forward up the backstretch to take the lead. Skyway Billy fronted the field after three-quarters in 1:25.4 while Easy Check pulled back to the outside, undercutting and forcing A Stud Named Sam three wide. Easy Check kept fighting on the lead in a four-pronged charge to the finish and crossed the line a quarter-length better than A Stud Named Sam, but was placed second for his interfering move around the far turn. Skyway Billy finished third and Jumping Jake (Pearly Allen) rallied up the open stretch but settled for fourth.

A STUD NAMED SAM REPLAY

Raymond Burt owns and trains A Stud Named Sam, an 8-year-old gelding. He paid $6.20 to win.

Bruno Chiodo foiled the chalk in the final division when capitalizing off a golden seat to win with Lovethewayyoulie (Rockin Image) in 1:55.1.

Anne Bonney N (Jacob Stillwell) fired for the lead along with 1-5 favorite Daimond Head (Michael Shults), but refused to let the favorite clear moving to a :27.1 first quarter. Diamond Head continued to pester the pacesetter alongside to a :56.1 half before faltering in the backstretch from the wide trip. Anne Bonney N continued to hold the lead to three-quarters in 1:25.3 all while Chiodo waited in the wings of the pocket with Lovethewayyoulie. Chiodo sent his fresh-legged charge after the leader rounding for home and slid easily to the lead. Lovethewayyoulie kicked away to register a 2-1/2-length win over P L Portia (Ryan Inglis) closing from a ground-saving trip for second.

Saulsbrook Raptor (Raymond Burt) rallied from last for third and Ooh Real Good (Pearly Allen) took fourth.

LOVETHEWAYYOULIE REPLAY

Stacy Chiodo trains Lovethewayyoulie, a 5-year-old gelding, for Chiodo Racing LLC. He paid $36.60 to win.

AHDC action resumes on Saturday (Nov. 2) with the next preliminary of the club’s fall trotting series at Freehold Raceway. First-race post time at Freehold is 12:30 p.m. (EDT).

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

by Ray Cotolo, for the AHDC