Wilkes-Barre, PA – This past weekend’s American Harness Drivers Club (AHDC) action saw four different drivers win in the four events spanned across two tracks over two days, with Scott Keppler and Anthony Verruso winning in the AHDC trots at Mohegan Pennsylvania’s Pocono Downs on Saturday (Sept. 6) and with Frank Tsipouras and Yogi Sheridan winning in the AHDC paces at Harrah’s Philadelphia on Sunday (Sept. 7).
Scott Keppler opened the weekend with a pillar-to-post win by 7-5 favorite Swiss House Onfire in a 1:58 mile in the first division of the AHDC trots. Keppler found a comfortable lead with the chalk and carved a sensible tempo of :28.2, :57.4 and 1:27.3 with minimal challenge incoming. All Too Well (driven by Yogi Sheridan) attempted a first-over bid coming for the final turn but tired rounding for home while Swiss House Onfire strode snugly to a 1-1/4 length win. Big Nudge (Anthony Verruso) rallied off a ground-saving trip for second along with Snowman Hanover (Vanessa Karlewicz) in third. Pocket-sitter Keystone Thunder (Paul Minore) faded to fourth.
Ricky Bucci trains Swiss House Onfire, an 8-year-old gelding by Muscle Hill, for owner Flatland Racing. He paid $4.80 to win.
Later in the afternoon, Anthony Verruso nailed favorite and tempo-setter Massive Matter (Tony Beltrami) to bag the second AHDC trot with Big Limo in a 1:56 mile. Verruso followed behind Massive Matter as he clocked fractions of :28, :57.1 and 1:26.2 with the only pressure coming from a mild push by Sevenshadesofgrey (Yogi Sheridan) on the approach to three-quarters. Massive Matter rebuffed the outside challenger and quickened for the challenge from Big Limo in the straightaway, but Verruso’s charge built enough momentum to snatch the win by a nose on the line. Mamy Wata (Paul Minore) followed the top two for third while Sevenshadesofgrey settled for fourth.
Veronica Spicer trains Big Limo, a 5-year-old gelding by What The Hill, for owner Peter Kleinhans. He paid $21.80 to win.
Frank Tsipouras kicked off Sunday’s AHDC action with a victory by Fred’s Night, the second longest shot on the board, in the opening split of the $7,500 AHDC pace. Off at odds of 23-1, Fred’s Night fired for the top into a :26.3 first quarter and held a confident advantage while slowing to a :55 half. Seeyou At Thebeach (Bruce Baker), parked off the pylons from the start, made steady gains uncovered and continued to climb towards pacesetter Fred’s Night as he started to shorten stride after three-quarters in 1:23.3. Fred’s Night held his ground strongly enough in the lane to stave off Seeyou At Thebeach’s relentless push by a head in a 1:54.1 mile. Iammrbrightside N (Anthony Verruso) closed for third and pocket-sitter Master Miki (Geovany Hernandez), the 6-5 favorite, settled for fourth.
Salvatore Sciarrino trains Fred’s Night, a 10-year-old gelding by Fred And Ginger, for owner Humpback Hill Farm LLC. He paid $48.40 to win.
After several unsuccessful first-over journeys on the weekend, Yogi Sheridan plowed up the rim for a 1:55.4 win by 5-2 second choice Rose Run Astro in the second division of the AHDC pace. Sheridan launched his bid out of sixth after a :28 first quarter and zipped outside to reach pacesetter Grateful Kiss’ (Bruce Baker) wheel nearing a :58.2 half. Rose Run Astro remained engaged with Grateful Kiss up the backstretch and edged to a narrow lead passing three-quarters in 1:26.3. Grateful Kiss relented into the turn, and Rose Run Astro spurted clear to grab the victory by 3-1/2 lengths. Backstreet Lawyer (Frank Tsipouras) overhauled Grateful Kiss off a ground-saving trip for second and Telitonthemountain (Michael Shults) rallied from second-over for fourth.
Izzy Estrada trains Rose Run Astro, a 3-year-old gelding by McWicked, for owner Estrada Racing LLC. He paid $7.60 to win.
AHDC action continues next week with trotting divisions at Pocono Downs on Saturday (Sept. 13) and pacing divisions at Harrah’s Philadelphia on Sunday (Sept. 14). First-race post time at Pocono is 1 p.m. (EDT) and 12:40 p.m. (EDT) at Harrah’s Philadelphia.