Chester, PA — Michael Shults and Raymond Burt delivered a pair of favorites while Bruno Chiodo scored a 17-1 upset to win in their respective $7,500 divisions of the American Harness Drivers Club Pace at Harrah’s Philadelphia on Sunday (Oct. 27).
Shults took Bionic pillar to post in the first AHDC dash, stopping the clock in 1:55.
Bionic easily crossed from post seven to the top heading to a :28 first quarter and strolled through the remainder, clocking a :58 half before accelerating to three-quarters in 1:25.2. He built ample cushion on the spin for home to cross the line a length better than Lincoln Boulevard (Bruce Baker) closing for second. Pocket-sitter Meet The Creeper (Chiodo) gave way but held third.
Shults also trains Bionic, a 6-year-old gelding by Always B Miki, for owner Blazer One Racing. He paid $6.20 to win.
Burt took his victory with A Stud Named Sam in the second AHDC division via disqualification, moving from second to first to win in 1:56.2.
Burt landed in third out of post six and chased pacesetter Easy Check (Ryan Inglis) through early fractions of :28 and :57.2, but found himself shuffled as Skyway Billy (Baker) rushed forward up the backstretch to take the lead. Skyway Billy fronted the field after three-quarters in 1:25.4 while Easy Check pulled back to the outside, undercutting and forcing A Stud Named Sam three wide.
Easy Check kept fighting on the lead in a four-pronged charge to the finish and crossed the line a quarter-length better than A Stud Named Sam, but was placed second for his interfering move around the far turn. Skyway Billy finished third.
Burt also owns and trains A Stud Named Sam, an 8-year-old gelding by A Stud Named Sue. He paid $6.20 to win.
Chiodo foiled the chalk in the final division when capitalizing off a golden seat to win with Lovethewayyoulie in 1:55.1.
Anne Bonney N (Jacob Stillwell) fired for the lead along with 1-5 favorite Diamond Head (Shults), but refused to let the favorite clear moving to a :27.1 first quarter. Diamond Head continued to pester the pacesetter alongside to a :56.1 half before faltering in the backstretch from the wide trip.
Anne Bonney N continued to hold the lead to three-quarters in 1:25.3 all while Chiodo waited in the wings of the pocket with Lovethewayyoulie. Chiodo sent his fresh-legged charge after the leader rounding for home and slid easily to the lead. Lovethewayyoulie kicked away to register a 2-1/2 length win over P L Portia (Inglis), closing from a ground-saving trip for second. Saulsbrook Raptor (Burt) rallied from last for third.
Stacy Chiodo trains Lovethewayyoulie, a 5-year-old gelding by Rockin Image, for Chiodo Racing. He paid $36.60 to win.
AHDC action resumes on Saturday (Nov. 2) with the next preliminary of the club’s fall trotting series at Freehold Raceway. First-race post time at Freehold is 12:30 p.m. (EDT).