Chester, PA – Geovany Hernandez delivered twice as the favorite while Bruno Chiodo romped in their respective $7,500 dashes of the American Harness Drivers Club (AHDC) at Harrah’s Philadelphia on Sunday (Nov. 24).
Hernandez won first in the lone trotting division behind 9-5 chalk Archibald in a 1:58.1 mile. Parked through a :27.4 first quarter, Hernandez found a tow forward from Kobe B (driven by Yogi Sheridan) and advanced from second over towards tempo-setter Big Nudge (Anthony Verruso) approaching a :57.2 half. Archibald remained perched on cover through three-quarters in 1:26.4 and lifted off the helmet spinning for home to push to a 1-1/4-length win at the beam. Kobe B grabbed second from Big Nudge while pocket-sitter Awol Hanover (Steven Reisenweaver) gave chase in fourth.
Symon Spicer trains Archibald, a 10-year-old gelding by Archangel, for owner Michael Sherman Jr. He paid $5.60 to win.
Hernandez popped the pocket with Phelgon in the second division of the AHDC Pace to post a 1:55.1 win as the 3-5 favorite. Seated behind pacesetter Western Bayama (Frank Tsipouras) through clips of :28.2, :58.3 and 1:26.2, Hernandez fired his charge for the lead in the homestretch and snatched the victory by a half length at the beam. Boiler Maker (Neil Glasser) closed from last for third, another six lengths behind, and A J Morelli (Matt Zuccarello) stalled from a first-over bid but took fourth.
Geovany Hernandez owns and trains Phelgon, a 6-year-old mare by Rockin Image. She paid $3.20 to win.
Bruno Chiodo blew away the competition in the first division of the AHDC Pace with an open-length win behind Lovethewayyoulie in a 1:52.3 mile. Chiodo sat in the pocket while 3-2 favorite Hes Rockin Ralphie (Frank Tsipouras) zipped by a :26.3 first quarter and stayed on the pedal to a :54.3 half. But once Master Miki (Geovany Hernandez) backtracked from his first-over bid, Chiodo lunged Lovethewayyoulie off the pegs and grabbed command heading to three-quarters in 1:23. Chiodo continued to widen his lead through the turn and in the stretch to cross the finish 7-1/2 lengths better than Urban Renewal (Neil Glasser) rallying for second. Hes Rockin Ralphie finished third and Fugleman (Matt Zuccarello) saved ground for fourth.
Stacy Chiodo trains Lovethewayyoulie, a 5-year-old gelding by Rockin Image, for owner Chiodo Racing LLC. He paid $11 to win.
AHDC action resumes at Freehold Raceway on Saturday (Nov. 30). First-race post time at Freehold is 12:30 p.m. (EST).