Wilkes-Barre, PA – Mike Polansky pounced off a pocket ride to win the $10,000 American Harness Drivers Club (AHDC) trot at Pocono Downs at Mohegan Pennsylvania on Sunday night (Aug. 17) while John Calabrese bagged two of the three AHDC pace events at Harrah’s Philadelphia earlier in the day.
In the AHDC trot, Polansky secured a pocket ride behind 8-5 favorite Big Limo (driven by Anthony Verruso) and kicked quickest to deliver Certify to a 1:56.1 victory. Big Limo grabbed the top after a :28 first quarter and cruised through middle sectionals of :58.1 and 1:26.3, in which he endured a mild first-over push from Impressive Dude (Joe Faraldo). Impressive Dude retreated through the turn while Certify swelled from the pocket and charged after the leader coming for home. Certify downed Big Limo in the lane and scooted away to a 1-1/2 length win with Big Nudge (Dante Scattolini) holding third from a ground-saving trip and Six Sticks (Yogi Sheridan) closing for fourth.
Michael Fiumenero owns and trains Certify, a 9-year-old gelding by Credit Winner. He paid $6.80 to win.
John Calabrese won the first two of three $7,500 divisions of the AHDC paces at Harrah’s Philadelphia, starting with a pillar-to-post upset by Fred’s Night in a 1:54.4 mile. Calabrese saw no pressure through the race, opening a comfortable lead through early fractions of :28.3 and :57 before sprinting for three-quarters in 1:24.4. Pocket-chaser Arnie’s Army (Frank Tsipouras) worked to reel in the leader coming for home, but Fred’s Night held a one-length advantage to the finish while Backstreet Lawyer (Anthony Verruso) gave chase in third, another three lengths behind. Exciting Times A (Mickey Goldin) finished fourth.
Salvatore Sciarrino trains Fred’s Night, a 10-year-old gelding by Fred And Ginger, for owner Humpback Hill Farm LLC. He paid $26.20 to win.
Calabrese then won sitting behind a speed battle with Redding Hanover, posting a 1:56.3 mile in winning the second division. Redding Hanover stalked a duel between The Opener (Bruce Baker) and 2-1 chalk Stolen Art (Yogi Sheridan) as they carved sectionals of :28.2, :58 and 1:26.3. The pair remained embroiled in battle spinning for home while Calabrese fed his fresh-legged charge to open racetrack and spurted forward to seize a 1-1/4 length win. Stolen Art took second with The Opener settling for third and Grateful Kiss (Geovany Hernandez) coming from near last for fourth.
Howard Birney owns and trains Redding Hanover, an 8-year-old gelding by Mach Three. He paid $10.60 to win.
Frank Tsipouras took the final division of the AHDC events with a front-stepping victory by Warrawee Xceed in 1:54.2. Tsipouras clinched the lead from the pylon post in a :26.3 first quarter, turning away Drinkin Again (Vincent Gargano) before that challenger started a hasty retreat. Warrawee Xceed maintained a steady tempo to a :55 half and 1:24 three-quarters as 4-5 favorite Sunshine’s Finest (Yogi Sheridan) moved first-over to challenge the tiring leader in the final quarter mile. Equally weary coming for the finish, Sunshine’s Finest kept clawing at the leader but came a quarter-length shy of victory in second while Iammrbrightside N (Anthony Verruso) rallied for third and Phelgon (Geovany Hernandez) came from last for fourth.
Michael Polhemus trains Warrawee Xceed, a 6-year-old gelding by Sportswriter, for owner Backstreet Racing LLC. He paid $15 to win.
AHDC action continues next Sunday (Aug. 24) with pacing divisions at Harrah’s Philadelphia and trotting divisions at Pocono Downs. First-race post time at Harrah’s Philadelphia is 12:40 p.m. (EDT) and 6 p.m. (EDT) at Pocono.