Chester, PA – William Clark Jr. and Yogi Sheridan both scored in the return of American Harness Drivers Club (AHDC) action to Harrah’s Philadelphia on Sunday (May 31), winning their respective $8,500 divisions of AHDC pace events.
Clark took the first division from a stalking trip with Sunshine’s Finest in a 1:54.2 mile. Odds-on favorite Johnny Chip (driven by Yogi Sheridan) launched off the car to cut the mile into a :26.4 first quarter and faced minimal pressure to the half, allowing him to back the tempo for a :57.1 breather. Johnny Chip charged up the backstretch as the lone fledgling pursuer, Rojan’s Way (Geovany Hernandez), stalled on the rim in the sprint to a 1:24.4 three-quarters. But the pair closest to Johnny Chip, Hashtag Money (Anthony Verruso) from the pocket and Sunshine’s Finest from third, had ample in reserve spinning for home. Sunshine’s Finest fired with the most momentum in the stretch to down Johnny Chip by a head at the beam while Hashtag Money settled for third in a photo and 51-1 shot Bionic (Michael Shults) rallied from second to last for fourth.
William Clark Jr. trains Sunshine’s Finest, a 10-year-old gelding by Sunshine Beach, for owner Mary Cuerbo. He paid $13.40 to win.
After being foiled in the first division, Sheridan returned in the following race to land a 15-1 upset with Redding Hanover in a 1:56.4 mile. Sheridan sat seventh with his charge as 15-1 shot Hes Rockin Ralphie (Frank Tsipouras) hustled to lead the pack through a :26.3 first quarter. Hes Rockin Ralphie slowed to a :56.1 half and maintained a steady pace to the backstretch, prompting 7-5 second-choice Phelgon (Geovany Hernandez) to pull off the pylons from third. Sheridan found himself third-over on cover to three-quarters in 1:25.3 and prepared for a stretch attack as the pacesetter’s speed started to crater. Redding Hanover engulfed his foes through the lane to nab victory by a neck over 4-5 favorite Jonah (Anthony Verruso), who rallied off a pocket trip but settled for second. Paprike Blue Chip (William Clark Jr.) came from second-over to finish third and Phelgon held on for fourth.
Howard Birney owns and trains Redding Hanover, a 9-year-old gelding by Mach Three. He paid $33.80 to win.
AHDC action continues next Sunday (June 7) with pacing divisions scheduled at Harrah’s Philadelphia and trotting divisions scheduled at Pocono Downs at Mohegan Pennsylvania. First-race post time at Harrah’s Philadelphia is 12:40 p.m. (EDT) and post time at Pocono Downs is 5 p.m. (EDT).