Chester, PA – William Clark Jr. snagged two of the three $8,500 divisions of the American Harness Drivers Club (AHDC) Pace at Harrah’s Philadelphia on Sunday afternoon (Aug. 2).
Clark pulled a 14-1 upset in the first division when delivering Paprike Blue Chip to a 1:54.3 victory. Leaving from post 7, Paprike Blue Chip planted into fourth as 2-1 favorite Ea Mushu (driven by James Slendorn) endured a challenge from second choice My Wish Came True (Yogi Sheridan) into a :27.3 first quarter. My Wish Came True overtook Ea Mushu heading to a :56 half, at which point Clark readied a backside blitz with his charge for the lead. Paprike Blue Chip successfully rushed up to grab command from My Wish Came True before three-quarters in 1:25 and strode comfortably through the remainder to secure a 2-1/2-length victory with Ea Mushu rallying for second. Fred’s Night (Matt Zuccarello) sustained a first-over push through the last turn for third and Enough Sun (Geovany Hernandez) closed for fourth.
William Clark Jr. owns and trains Paprike Blue Chip, an 11-year-old gelding by Roll With Joe. He paid $30 to win.
Sunshine’s Finest bookended Clark’s double on the day with a narrow 1:54.4 win in the last of three AHDC Pace divisions. Clark secured a seat in third as Lyons Liberty (James Slendorn) sped to the top in a :26.3 first quarter and faced minimal pressure towards a :56.3 half. Race favorite Swing Vision (William Harrison) mounted a first-over bid out of fifth up the backstretch but only made mild progress while Lyons Liberty coasted to three-quarters in 1:25.2. Pocket-sitter Shezafreaklikeme vacated his seat to attack the leader into the stretch, giving Sunshine’s Finest a golden seam to barrel through and collar the leader at the beam by a nose. Lyons Liberty settled for second with Baron Michael (Yogi Sheridan) closing for third and Swing Vision taking fourth.
William Clark Jr. trains Sunshine’s Finest, a 10-year-old gelding by Sunshine Beach, for owner Mary Cuerbo. He paid $8.40 to win.
Geovany Hernandez won the other AHDC Pace on the card with 6-5 favorite Rough Odds in a 1:54 mile. Hernandez tipped out of third after a :27.1 first quarter to press 3-2 second choice Gumbell (Yogi Sheridan) for the lead, and the two dueled through a :56.1 half and 1:24.4 three-quarters until Gumbell relented into the last turn. Rough Odds spurted away while spinning for home and strolled to the finish a 2-3/4-length winner over Lincoln Boulevard (James Slendorn), who rallied from third over for second. Herrickroosevelt N closed from second over for third and Cash Back (Matt Zuccarello) took fourth.
Marc Mosher trains Rough Odds, a 12-year-old gelding by Bettor’s Delight, for owner Joseph Riad. He paid $4.40 to win.