Wilkes-Barre, PA — Mike Polansky and John Calabrese both grabbed the front and never let go to take their respective $10,000 divisions of the American Harness Drivers Club (AHDC) trots at Pocono Downs at Mohegan Pennsylvania on Sunday night (July 19).
Polansky powered out of post 8 to the lead with Certify in the first division and strolled to a 1:56.2 victory. He cleared command from pylon-starter Southern Patricia (driven by Anthony Verruso) past a :27.4 first quarter and settled on the point to grab a breather to a :56.4 half. Certify trotted steadily up the backside with minimal pressure incoming to clock three-quarters in a modest 1:25.4 before wrapping up the win by 2-3/4 lengths. Bank Box Treasure (Helene Engblom) took second from a ground-saving trip over Southern Patricia and Muscle Dan (Tony Ciuffetelli) followed in fourth.
Michael Fiumenero owns and trains Certify, a 10-year-old gelding by Credit Winner. He paid $4.80 to win.
John Calabrese later romped in a 1:54.2 mile with Show The Will. After taking control to a :27.4 first quarter, Calabrese opened six lengths on his closest pursuer, 2-1 favorite Classic Pickle (Mike Polansky), approaching a :56 half. Show The Will quickened in the backstretch to widen his lead to 12 lengths passing three-quarters in 1:24.2, and from there he coasted to the finish for a 7-3/4-length score chased by Classic Pickle with Snowman Hanover (Vanessa Kalewicz) finishing third and Velociraptor (Bob Krivelin) settling for fourth.
Vincent Ginsburg trains Show The Will, a 7-year-old gelding by Possess The Will, for owner Jaypaul Hoover. He paid $7 to win.
Earlier in the day, Harrah’s Philadelphia hosted three $8,500 divisions of AHDC paces starting with a 1:57.1 win by Michael Shults with Flying Tiger. Shults pulled off the pylons approaching a :58.1 half and marched up the rim after pacesetter Cheese Omelet (Anthony Verruso) nearing three-quarters in 1:27.2. Flying Tiger increased pressure on the leader through the turn and eventually slid by in the lane for a length win while Schwartz Bros Pat (Paul Minore) gave pursuit from a pocket trip in third. My Wish Came True (Tony Beltrami), the 4-5 favorite, leveled off from a second-over trip for fourth.
Michael Shults trains Flying Tiger, a 7-year-old gelding by Always B Miki, for owner Blazer One Racing. He paid $6.40 to win.
Yogi Sheridan later converted a pocket trip into a 1:53 victory by Captain Dee Tee in the second division. Sheridan perched behind longshot pacesetter Control Group (Geovany Hernandez) as he battled for the lead with parked Madelines Blk Jack through a clip of :26.4, :55.4 and 1:24.1. Once Control Group repelled Madelines Blk Jack to the last turn, he braced for the late push from Captain Dee Tee spinning for home. The pair scampered clear of the competition in the stretch, though Sheridan landed the upper hand late for a neck win over Control Group with Swing Vision (Anthony Verruso), the 2-1 favorite, closing from near last for third. Sunshine’s Finest (William Clark Jr.) settled for fourth.
Izzy Estrada trains Captain Dee Tee, a 4-year-old gelding by Captain Trevor, for owner Estrada Racing LLC. He paid $9 to win.
Geovany Hernandez notched revenge later in the card with a 1:55.3 victory in the final AHDC pace behind Lyons Pride. Hernandez settled into the middle of the pack while Herrickroosevelt N (Paul Minore) and Big Jack Hammer (Jake Leamon) sparred on the lead through a :28 first quarter and :56.2 half. As Big Jack Hammer tired on the approach to three-quarters in 1:25.2, Hernandez readied his charge for an attack on the turn for home. Lyons Pride lifted and ground down leader Herrickroosevelt N in the stretch to clinch victory by three-quarter lengths with Pack Your Bags (Tony Beltrami) closing for third and It’sgoodtobedaking (Yogi Sheridan) settling for fourth after a first-over push in the last turn.
John Kreiser trains Lyons Pride, a 7-year-old gelding by Bettor’s Delight, for owner Sean Kreiser. He paid $5.60 to win.
AHDC action resumes next Sunday (July 26) 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 5 p.m. (EDT) at Pocono.