Chester, PA — Neil Glasser swept the $7,500 divisions of the American Harness Drivers Club pace while Anthony Verruso won the lone $7,500 dash for the trotters on Sunday (Nov. 17) at Harrah’s Philadelphia.
Glasser powered in the back half with Boiler Maker to win the first division of the AHDC pace in 1:55.1.
Western Bayama (Frank Tsipouras) fired for the front along with Wilsons Vinner (Raymond Burt), who raced wide to a : 27.3 first quarter and parked while losing ground to a :56.3 half. As he faltered, Glasser activated Boiler Maker from sixth and charged up the rim in the backstretch to reach within a length of Western Bayama passing three-quarters in 1:25.4.
Boiler Maker fought relentlessly spinning through the turn and slid forward upon straightening to dispose Western Bayama by 1-1/4 lengths at the line. Bungalow Bill N (Philip Kozak) sat a ground-saving trip for third and 4-5 favorite Phelgon (Geovany Hernandez) chased from a pocket trip for fourth.
George Lange trains Boiler Maker, a 6-year-old gelding by Sweet Lou, for owner Scott Brockwell. He paid $17.20 to win.
Again kicking from off the speed, Glasser won the second AHDC pace with 14-1 shot Urban Renewal in a 1:54.4 mile.
Hes Rockin Ralphie (Tsipouras), the slight 8-5 favorite, rolled to the lead before a :27.3 first quarter and coasted to a :57.1 half. Off that breather, Rogers Image (Yogi Sheridan) left from the pocket spot and pulled to attack up the backstretch while Glasser and Urban Renewal sat third to the inside.
The top pair battled to three-quarters in 1:25.2, all through the far turn and into the stretch, but the fresh legs of the next two in the inside trail charged most furiously. Urban Renewal built the most momentum coming for the line and grabbed a head win from Master Miki (Hernandez) in second while Hes Rockin Ralphie held third from Rogers Image in fourth.
Mike Watson trains Urban Renewal, an 11-year-old gelding by Cam’s Card Shark, for owner Glasser Racing. He paid $31.60 to win.
The single AHDC trot division on the Sunday card went to pocket-pouncer Big Nudge and driver Verruso in a 1:57.3 mile.
Verruso planted his charge behind pacesetter and 6-5 favorite Bank Box Treasure (William Clark Jr.) to a :28.1 first quarter and followed from that seat through a :58.2 half and three-quarters in 1:28. Lionhead (Sheridan) pushed uncovered from a parked mile to press Bank Box Treasure to the final turn and kept fighting into the stretch, though Big Nudge blasted out of the pocket once given racetrack and surged to a 1-3/4 length win. Lionhead finished second with Archibald (Hernandez) taking third and Bank Box Treasure faded to fourth.
Symon Spicer trains Big Nudge, a 7-year-old gelding by Donato Hanover, for owners George Beck, Michael Sherman Jr. and Veronica Spicer. He paid $7.80 to win.
AHDC action continues on Saturday (Nov. 23) with the next leg of the club’s fall trotting series at Freehold Raceway. First-race post time at Freehold is 12:30 p.m. (EST).