Wilkes-Barre, PA — Yogi Sheridan led every step while Mike Polansky converted a pocket trip to a victory to take their respective $10,000 divisions of the American Harness Drivers Club (AHDC) trots at Pocono Downs at Mohegan Pennsylvania on a busy Sunday (June 14) for the club.
Sheridan fired Bacardi to the lead and held firm to the line for a 1:56.4 win in the first AHDC trot. After taking control from post 7 to a :28 first quarter, Bacardi cruised under minimal pressure to a :58.2 half before quickening for the backside. Big Charlie Moran (driven by Joe Lee) mildly pushed up the rim out of third but floundered as the tempo increased to three-quarters in 1:26.4. Bacardi spun for home and maintained control when pressed late by pocket-sitting Certify (Mike Polansky) to win by a neck with Hey Dude (Anthony Verruso) saving ground for third. Voss Blue Chip (Tony Beltrami), the 9-5 favorite, rallied from off cover for fourth.
Julius Czermann Jr. trains Bacardi, an 8-year-old gelding by Southwind Frank, for owner Joseph Loprete. He paid $7.40 to win.
Mike Polansky came back a few races later and bested Yogi Sheridan in the second AHDC trot, winning with Smoking Jet in 1:55.4. Polansky tucked from post 2 behind pylon starter Green Zone (Peter Gerry) as he shot for the lead to a :27.4 first quarter and then slowed to a :58.1 half. Smoking Jet traveled comfortably in behind as 3-2 favorite Massive Matter (Tony Beltrami) moved out of fourth with an uncovered attack that stalled as Green Zone quickened to three-quarters in 1:26.2. Green Zone clung to command turning for home as Polansky fed Smoking Jet racetrack while Brave By Design (Yogi Sheridan) swung onto the scene from off cover and reached for the leader late. Smoking Jet hit the beam three-quarters of a length better than Brave By Design while Green Zone settled for third and Glenfidich (Joe Lee) sat a pylon trip for fourth.
Michael Fiumenero trains Smoking Jet, a 9-year-old gelding by Triumphant Caviar, for owner Mike Polansky. He paid $6 to win.
Harrah’s Philadelphia hosted a pair of $8,500 AHDC pacing events earlier in the day. Tony Beltrami, though foiled with a pair of favorites later in the evening, found the winner’s circle with 2-5 chalk Lou On The Beach in the first AHDC pace, stopping the clock in 1:54.3. Beltrami followed from the pocket as pacesetter Better Than Some (Yogi Sheridan) battled with parked Rojan’s Way (Geovany Hernandez) through fractions of :26.2, :55.4 and 1:24.2. Rojan’s Way tired moving into the last turn, giving Lou On The Beach ample opportunity to pounce and down Better Than Some in the lane for a 1-1/2-length win. Better Than Some held second with One Of The Guys (Dante Scattolini) taking third and Western Bayama (Michael Shults) taking fourth via disqualification. Paprike Blue Chip (William Clark Jr.), the third-place finisher in the race, was placed last for a pylon violation.
Ivan Llopez owns and trains Lou On The Beach, a 6-year-old gelding by Sweet Lou. He paid $2.80 to win.
Michael Shults later rode the pocket to victory in the second AHDC pace behind Bionic in a 1:54 mile. Shults tracked 2-5 chalk Hashtag Money (Tony Beltrami) through splits of :27.1, :57.4 and 1:25.3 before initiating an attack for home. Bionic reeled in the leader with fervor to land a head in front on the line while Master Miki (Geovany Hernandez) gave chase in third, another seven lengths. Cheese Omelet (Dante Scattolini) finished fourth.
Shults trains Bionic, an 8-year-old gelding by Always B Miki, for owner Blazer One Racing. He paid $9 to win.
AHDC action resumes next Sunday (June 21) with pacing divisions scheduled at Harrah’s Philadelphia and trotting divisions scheduled at Pocono Downs. First-race post time at Harrah’s Philadelphia is 12:40 p.m. (EDT) and 5 p.m. (EDT) at Pocono.