Chester, PA – Yogi Sheridan dominated a busy afternoon of racing for the American Harness Drivers Club (AHDC), winning three of the four $8,500 pacing divisions at Harrah’s Philadelphia on Sunday (June 21).
Sheridan opened the day delivering 1-5 favorite Enrique Hanover to a 1:53.3 victory in the first division. He circled his charge to the lead past a :27.1 first quarter to pocket Lou On The Beach (driven by Anthony Verruso) and cruised while under pressure from longshot The Opener (Bruce Baker) through a :56.4 half and 1:24.3 three-quarters. Enrique Hanover opened his lead with ease turning for home to register a 2-1/2-length win over Sunshine’s Finest (William Clark Jr.), who rallied from off cover for second. Lou On The Beach gave chase in third and Kentucky Moonshine (John Calabrese) finished fourth.
Izzy Estrada trains Enrique Hanover, a 4-year-old gelding by Tall Dark Stranger, for owner Estrada Racing LLC. He paid $2.60 to win.
With no drive in the second division, Sheridan returned to the track for the third split to romp with even-money favorite Midwind Lover Boy in a 1:54.1 mile. Sheridan settled into fourth from the pylon post as Paprike Blue Chip (William Clark Jr.) pushed to cut a :26.4 first quarter. Paprike Blue Chip hit the brakes heavily moving for a :57.1 half, prompting Sheridan to lift Midwind Lover Boy from the pylons and brush for the lead approaching the backside. Midwind Lover Boy cleared Paprike Blue Chip and coasted on a two-length lead to three-quarters in 1:24.4 and widened his advantage coming for home for a 7-1/2-length victory. Paprike Blue Chip held second from Flying Tiger (Michael Shults), who was closing from mid-pack for third. Schwartz Bros Pat (Bruce Baker) followed Flying Tiger’s cover for fourth.
Izzy Estrada trains Midwind Lover Boy, a 3-year-old gelding by Tall Dark Stranger, for owner Estrada Racing LLC. He paid $4.20 to win.
Sheridan returned to the winner’s circle in the fourth and last division with a trainee of his own, pulling a 10-1 upset with Shore Of Himself in a 1:55 mile. Odds-on favorite Hashtag Money (Anthony Verruso) floated forward while Sheridan hustled Shore Of Himself to the top, but Sheridan obliged to sit the pocket as Hashtag Money pushed up the rim through a :27.1 first quarter. Hashtag Money cut soft fractions in the middle half of :57.3 and 1:26.1 and reached for home as Shore Of Himself angled from the pocket to open racetrack. Shore Of Himself slid forward in the lane to collar Hashtag Money and edge away to a 1-1/4-length win while Bionic (Michael Shults) kicked from last to tack third, another four lengths behind. Better Than Some (Matt Zuccarello) sat a ground-saving trip for fourth.
Yogi Sheridan trains and co-owns Shore Of Himself, an 8-year-old gelding by Western Shore, with Beverly Schiffman. He paid $22.40 to win.
Anthony Verruso took the second of four AHDC pacing divisions on the day in a tight finish with even-money favorite Crunch The Numbers for a 1:55.3 win. Verruso swooped his charge to the lead after a :27 first quarter, clearing early leader Western Bayama (Michael Shults) passing the grandstand for the first time. Grateful Kiss (Dante Scattolini) also challenged wide for the lead, but was stuck racing on the rim and remained alongside the pacesetter through a :56.4 half and 1:26.2 three-quarters. Grateful Kiss tired into the last turn while Crunch The Numbers set down for the finish and firmly held his ground under pursuit from pocket-chaser Western Bayama and late-charging Herrickroosevelt N (Paul Minore) to win by a neck at the beam. Western Bayama took second in the photo from Herrickroosevelt N while Bungalow Bill N (Philip Kozak) sat a pylon trip for fourth.
Allie Reynolds trains Crunch The Numbers, a 5-year-old gelding by Captain Crunch, for owner Howard Slotoroff. He paid $4.20 to win.
A ways north from Harrah’s Philadelphia later into the evening, Pocono Downs contested a single $10,000 dash of the AHDC Trot taken by Mike Polansky with public choice Smoking Jet in a 1:57 mile. Polansky planted into the pocket out of post 7 behind tempo-setter Voss Blue Chip (Cameron Capone) heading to a :27.1 first quarter and stayed put while the leader grabbed a breather to a :58.4 half. Smoking Jet pulled from the pylons coming to three-quarters in 1:27 and applied persistent pressure on Voss Blue Chip through the turn and down the lane to down his foe late for the win by a nose. Voss Blue Chip settled for second with Glenfidich (Anthony Verruso) rallying for third and Love This Bar (Jacob Stillwell) giving chase in fourth.
Michael Fiumenero trains Smoking Jet, a 9-year-old gelding by Triumphant Caviar, for owner Mike Polansky. He paid $3.40 to win.
AHDC action resumes next Sunday (June 28) with pacing divisions scheduled at Harrah’s Philadelphia and trotting divisions scheduled at Pocono Downs. First-race post time at Harrah’s Philadelphia is 12:40 p.m. (EDT) and 5 p.m. (EDT) at Pocono Downs.