Slendorn, Sheridan score in AHDC Trots

FREEHOLD, N.J.— James Slendorn went pillar to post and Lionhead led practically pillar to post to both blow away their harness racing rivals and deliver as the chalks in the $7,500 American Harness Drivers Club (AHDC) Trots at Freehold Raceway on Saturday (Nov. 2).

James Slendorn and the aptly named Im The Muscle (Muscle Mass) motored down the road to a 2:00.1 victory in the first division. Slendorn easily seized the lead with Im The Muscle from the pylon post and parked challenging Showme Some Muscle (driven by Jacob Stillwell) through a :28.2 first quarter. Showme Some Muscle retreated in a :58.4 half while Im The Muscle stayed on the muscle to clock three-quarters in 1:29.3 before separating from the field in the homestretch. Im The Muscle crossed the beam four lengths better than Shoemaker Hanover (John Calabrese) rallying for second. Jessies Outlawed (Pearly Allen) came from near last for third and pocket-sitter Hunters Gal (William Clark Jr.) faded to fourth.

IM THE MUSCLE REPLAY

Veronica Spicer owns and trains Im The Muscle, a 9-year-old gelding by Muscle Mass. He paid $8.80 to win.

Yogi Sheridan repelled early challenger All Rise (Tony Beltrami) to score an open-length win with Lionhead in a 2:01.4 mile in the second AHDC division.

Lionhead pushed forward to cross to the lead, but faced an assault from post-8 starter All Rise through a :29.2 first quarter. All Rise stayed at Lionhead’s throat through a :59.1 half, but began tiring from the wide journey and lost ground on the leader moving to three-quarters in 1:30.1. Lionhead maintained his speed through the turn and peeled away from pocket-sitter Lil’ Day Drinkin (Mickey Goldin) in the stretch to post a 4-3/4-length win at the end. Real McCoy (John James Urbanski) gave chase from a ground-saving trip in third and Masster Blue (John Calabrese) took fourth.

LIONHEAD REPLAY

Terry Morgan owns and trains Lionhead, an 8-year-old gelding by Uncle Peter. He paid $3.20 to win.

AHDC action for the club’s fall trotting series continues next Saturday (Nov. 9) at Freehold Raceway. First-race post time at Freehold is 12:30 p.m. (EST).

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

by Ray Cotolo, for the AHDC