Chester, PA – Anthony Verruso swept the early daily double at Harrah’s Philadelphia on Sunday (Nov. 8) as part of a four-pack of $8,500 pacing events for the American Harness Drivers Club (AHDC).
Verruso first delivered a comfortable win with 3-1 third choice Two Faced in a 1:54.4 mile. After getting away third to a :27.3 first quarter, Verruso marched his charge off the pylons heading to a :56.1 half and overhauled 8-5 chalk Bell Of Lazarus (Yogi Sheridan) to take over command. Two Faced opened a three-length lead to three-quarters in 1:24.1 and maintained that advantage to the finish while Major Ace (Jacob Fox) rallied from a second-over trip to take second. Watch U R Back (William Clark Jr.) closed from near last for third and Duck Into The Nite (Geovany Hernandez) leveled off from a first-over push in fourth.
Joseph Karrat trains Two Faced for owner Brian Armour. The 7-year-old Shadow Play-Face To Face gelding paid $8.40 to win.
One race later, Verruso swooped over the top with 8-1 shot Lyons Pride to pull a mild upset in a 1:56.4 mile. Floating towards the back of the pack, Verruso latched onto cover from 9-5 favorite Saranac Blue Chip (Yogi Sheridan) as Wilsons Vinner (Jacob Fox), the longest shot on the board, cut a :27.1 first quarter on the point. Saranac Blue Chip carried Verruso closer to the action through middle splits of :57.3 and 1:26.3, at which point Verruso flipped three wide to grind forward through the last turn. Lyons Pride stormed to the lead upon straightening for the finish and held firmly to win by three-quarter lengths with One Of The Guys (Matt Zuccarello) surging widest down the track from last to take second. Lew Hauber (Geovany Hernandez) zipped off a pocket ride through the open stretch for third and Wilsons Vinner held fourth.
John Kreiser trains Lyons Pride for owner Sean Kreiser. The 7-year-old Bettor’s Delight-Clear View Hanover gelding paid $18.20 to win.
Yogi Sheridan found the winner’s circle in the third division when converting a pocket trip to a 1:57.3 victory with 7-5 chalk Ea Mushu. Sheridan swept to the top through a :27.2 first quarter before yielding for the pocket as Uncle Coz (William Clark Jr.) looped to re-take the lead. Uncle Coz then backed proceedings to a :58 half and quickened in the backstretch once confronted by first-over challenger Grateful Kiss (Matt Zuccarello). Past three-quarters in 1:26.4, Uncle Coz held Grateful Kiss at bay, but Sheridan’s charge swelled from the pocket ride and zipped past rivals through the open stretch when cornering. Ea Mushu kicked clear for a 1-3/4-length win with Enough Sun (Geovany Hernandez) rallying from a third-over trip for second. Uncle Coz held third and Grateful Kiss took fourth.
Victoria D’Alessandro owns and trains Ea Mushu, a 6-year-old mare by Fear The Dragon-Right Stuff. She paid $4.80 to win.
James Slendorn gave an aggressive steer to 8-1 shot San Jose in the final AHDC Pace division and grabbed the victory in a 1:56.2 mile. Slendorn sent his charge forward from post 7 and cleared control to a :26.2 first quarter before grabbing a breather to a :56.2 half, where pocket-sitter Phelgon (Geovany Hernandez) angled outside and looped to the lead. Phelgon controlled the terms while under mild first-over pressure from Shady Lane Luck (Jacob Fox) to three-quarters in 1:25.3 and stayed on the muscle through the last turn until rolling off stride near the bottom corner. San Jose found open road once Phelgon ducked off the course and skimmed through the seam to edge 1-1/4 lengths clear to the finish to win over Shady Lane Luck. It’ll Be Alright (Yogi Sheridan) gave chase in third and Hold My Tiara (Anthony Verruso) rallied from near last for fourth.
Julius Czermann Jr. trains San Jose for owner Joseph Loprete. The 5-year-old Captaintreacherous-Santa Rosa gelding paid $18.40 to win.
On Saturday (Nov. 7), Geovany Hernandez scored a 1:58.4 win in the lone $10,000 dash of the AHDC Trot at Pocono Downs in a pillar-to-post effort with Kountry Express. Hernandez pushed for the front from the pylon draw and took command to a :28.2 first quarter and backed the tempo down to a 1:00.2 half before accelerating for the backstretch. Kountry Express staved off first-over challenger Massive Matter (Anthony Verruso) to three-quarters in 1:29 and cruised to the finish for a length win over pocket-sitter Empire Builder (Jacob Fox). Massive Matter gave pursuit in third, beaten another six lengths, with Ezra (Austin Brubacker) fourth.
Geovany Hernandez owns and trains Kountry Express, a 6-year-old gelding by Father Patrick-Caddie In Love S. He paid $9.20 to win.
AHDC action resumes with trotting divisions scheduled at Pocono Downs on Saturday (Nov. 14) and pacing divisions scheduled at Harrah’s Philadelphia on Sunday (Nov. 15). First-race post time at Pocono Downs is 1 p.m. (EST) and 12:40 p.m. at Harrah’s Philadelphia.