Chester, PA – Geovany Hernandez went pillar to post while Bruce Baker rushed off the speed to win their respective $8,500 divisions of American Harness Drivers Club (AHDC) paces at Harrah’s Philadelphia on Sunday (Aug. 16).
Hernandez delivered 7-5 favorite Master Miki to a front-stepping 1:52.4 victory in the first AHDC pace. After launching from post 5 for the lead through a :26.4 first quarter, Hernandez parked first-over pursuer Swing Vision (driven by Bruce Baker) while cruising through middle fractions of :56 and 1:24.1. Master Miki slipped away to a two-length lead rounding for home that he expanded to 3-1/4 lengths at the beam while Swing Vision gave chase from the wide trip for second. Shore Of Himself (Yogi Sheridan) snagged third from pocket-chasing Wilsons Vinner (Tony Beltrami) in fourth.
An 8-year-old gelding by Always B Miki, Master Miki competes for owner-trainer Geovany Hernandez. He paid $5.20 to win.
Bruce Baker later catapulted off slow fractions past dueling leaders to land a 9-1 upset with Cheese Omelet in the other AHDC pace. Baker settled into sixth while Better Than Some (Yogi Sheridan) and Uncle Coz (William Clark Jr.) sparred for the lead through a :26.4 first quarter. Sheridan reined in his charge, as did Clark to the outside, and the battling leaders both grabbed a breather to a :57 half and to three-quarters in 1:27.3. Lazaruls (Joe Lee) perched onto cover second-over and Baker followed suit into a third-over seat with Cheese Omelet before letting him rip off the final turn. Cheese Omelet reeled in his competition to land a half-length in front at the beam over Lazaruls while Uncle Coz took third and Better Than Some tired to fourth.
Veronica Spicer trains Cheese Omelet, an 8-year-old gelding by American Ideal, for owners Dante Scattolini and Evgeniya Scattolini. He paid $21.20 to win.
On Saturday (Aug. 15), Pocono Downs at Mohegan Pennsylvania hosted a single $10,000 dash for the American Harness Drivers Club trot, won by Austin Brubacker with Ezra, who was the second-longest shot on the board, in a 1:57.2 mile. Brubacker sat last while Bank Box Treasure (John Calabrese) cut a tempo of :27.3, :56.4 and 1:27.2, but then lifted his charge moving for the last turn. Ezra built momentum and towered over his foes through the lane to reach the finish a nose better than Jacked (Joe Lee) while Bank Box Treasure took third, another three lengths behind, and pocket-sitter Certify (Mike Polansky) checked in fourth.
Brubacker owns and trains Ezra, a 7-year-old gelding by Swan For All. He paid $36.80 to win.
AHDC action resumes with trotting divisions scheduled at Pocono Downs for Saturday (Aug. 22) and pacing divisions scheduled at Harrah’s Philadelphia for Sunday (Aug. 23). First-race post time on Saturday at Pocono is 1 p.m. (EDT) and 12:40 p.m. on Sunday at Harrah’s Philadelphia.