Chester, PA – A total of six splits for American Harness Drivers Club (AHDC) action were contested across two tracks on Sunday (June 28) and driver William Clark Jr. was the lone reinsman to snag a double on the day, while he and Cameron Capone both snatched training doubles on the day.
Clark began the afternoon with a 1:53.2 victory with Sunshine’s Finest in the first of four $8,500 divisions of the AHDC at Harrah’s Philadelphia. Leaving from the pylon post, Clark worked into a golden pocket spot behind dueling leaders Tricky Captain N (driven by Geovany Hernandez) and first-up Costa Diva (Michael Shults) through splits of :27, :55.1 and 1:23.3. Costa Diva faltered through the turn while Clark revved his charge for an attack from the pocket spinning for home, and he nailed the weary pacesetter at the beam for a nose victory. Twin B Cardi (Cote Keim) rallied from a ground-saving trip for third and Costa Diva settled for fourth.
A 10-year-old gelding by Sunshine Beach, Sunshine’s Finest is owned by Mary Cuerbo and trained by William Clark Jr. He paid $10 to win.
In the third AHDC pacing dash, Clark returned to the winner’s circle from a front-stepping score by Uncle Coz in a 1:56.3 mile. Clark seized the lead early from post 4 and parked Lazaruls (Yogi Sheridan), who remained at the leader’s throat through a clip of :27.2, :57 and 1:26.3. Lazaruls eventually tired from the wide trip while Uncle Coz scampered away to win comfortably by 2-3/4 lengths. Jonah (Tony Beltrami), the 2-1 favorite, emerged from near last to take second with Redding Hanover (Geovany Hernandez) swooping over rivals for third. Backstreet Lawyer (John Calabrese) came from last for fourth.
William Clark Jr. trains Uncle Coz, a 13-year-old gelding by Rock N Roll Heaven, for owner Mary Cuerbo. He paid $28.80 to win.
Tony Beltrami delivered a romp with 2-5 Lou On The Beach in a 1:53.1 mile to take the second AHDC pacing division. Beltrami faced little resistance from early leader Better Than Some (Yogi Sheridan) to grab control after a :27 first quarter. He cruised through middle fractions of :56 and 1:24.3 before drawing away for a 5-1/4-length win chased by first-over Always A Way (Joe Lee) in second. Better Than Some held third and Woodmere Leah (Geovany Hernandez) closed from last for fourth.
Ivan Llopez owns and trains Lou On The Beach, a 6-year-old gelding by Sweet Lou. He paid $2.80 to win.
Geovany Hernandez wrapped the pacing divisions on the day with a 23-1 upset by Caravaggio in a 1:57.3 mile. Hernandez landed in mid-pack while odds-on chalk Hes Rockin Ralphie (Yogi Sheridan) ripped for the front from the pylon post to clock a :26.2 first quarter and :55.2 half. Hes Rockin Ralphie tired up the backstretch as the backfield gathered steam for three-quarters in 1:25.4 with Bargain Shopper (John Calabrese) tipping off the pylons from third to lead the outer tier. Hernandez perched his charge second-over and started fanning wider through the turn to set down for the finish. Caravaggio inched forward and held his ground from a late bid by Stolen Art (William Clark Jr.) to snag victory by a quarter length with Bargain Shopper left in third. Pocket-sitter Grateful Kiss (Matt Zuccarello) took fourth.
Hernandez owns and trains Caravaggio, a 3-year-old gelding by Tall Dark Stranger. He paid $48.80 to win.
Later in the day and many miles north, Joe Lee bagged the first of two $10,000 dashes of the AHDC trots at Pocono Downs at Mohegan Pennsylvania with Glenfidich in a 1:55.4 mile. Lee settled into third as Hey Dude (Anthony Verruso) took control to a :27.4 first quarter before slowing the tempo to a :57 half. As the pace quickened in the backstretch, Lee lifted Glenfidich from the pegs and brushed forward to take the lead passing three-quarters in 1:25.4. Glenfidich then cruised to the finish for a 2-1/2-length win chased by Green Zone (Peter Gerry) rolling from the back of the pack for second. Brave By Design (Yogi Sheridan), the 9-5 favorite, recovered from an early break to close for third while Hey Dude tired to fourth.
Cameron Capone trains Glenfidich, a 6-year-old gelding by Wheeling N Dealin, for owner Jaypaul Hoover. He paid $5.80 to win.
Capone later found the winner’s circle driving one of his trainees, Voss Blue Chip, to an upset in the second AHDC trot. He took an easy lead through a :28.1 first quarter and faced mild pressure from Love This Bar (Jacob Stillwell) to a :58.2 half. Once he accelerated for the backstretch, Voss Blue Chip maintained a snug lead to three-quarters in 1:26.2 that only widened through the final turn. Capone coasted over the line three lengths better than favored Shake N Bake (Yogi Sheridan) closing for second. Massive Matter (Tony Beltrami) sat a pocket trip for third and Southside Bar (Joe Lee) closed for fourth.
Cameron Capone trains Voss Blue Chip, a 5-year-old gelding by E L Titan, for owner Paul Kautz. He paid $21.60 to win.
AHDC action resumes next Sunday (July 5) 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 first-race post time at Pocono Downs is 5 p.m. (EDT).