WILKES-BARRE, PaScott Keppler took the win in the final steps of the only $10,000 division for the American Harness Drivers Club (AHDC) Trot at Pocono Downs on Saturday (October 25), while Michael Shults and Anthony Verruso found the winner’s circle in the pair of $7,500 AHDC Pace divisions the next day (Sunday, October 26) at Harrah’s Philadelphia.
In the AHDC Trot, Scott Keppler completed a pocket ride with Get Some Cash to pace-setter Velociraptor (driven by Cote Keim) in a 1:56.2 mile. Keppler waited as Velociraptor battled 47-1 shot Keystone Thunder (Charles Longo) through early fractions of :28.2 and :57.4, staying steady out of the pocket as Keystone Thunder tired in the backstretch. Velociraptor clocked three quarters in 1:26.2 and was heading home when Keppler activated his attack. Get Some Cash blasted out of the indoor stage and put Velociraptor by the neck at the finish to win, while Party At Seven (Raymond Burt) closed for third and Barn Credit (Anthony Verruso) saved ground for fourth.
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Joe Pavia Jr. trains Get Some Cash, a 6-year-old gelding by Money roomfor owner Scott Keppler. He paid $11.60 to win.
Michael Shults rode a first-over brush heading into the final turn to grab the lead and win the first of two AHDC Pace divisions at Harrah’s Philadelphia.
Shults finished in third place with Flying Tiger, while even-money favorite Camlachie Chrome (Geovany Hernandez) recorded a first quarter of 28.4 before slamming on the brakes to a 1:00.1 half. As he accelerated for the backstretch, Camlachie Chrome broke into a gallop, hobbling Uncle Coz (Frank Tsipouras) from the pocket while forcing Shults three wide as he launched Flying Tiger into a charge. Flying Tiger shot into the lead after three quarters in 1:29.3 and hung on for the remainder to take a length victory over second-place Try Line (Charles Longo). Uncle Coz finished third and Costa Diva (Cote Keim) finished fourth.
Michael Shults trains Flying Tiger, a 6-year-old gelding by Always B Mikifor owner Blazer One Racing. He paid $9.20 to win.
Anthony Verruso later won from a first-over move with even-money chalk Iammrbrightside N in a 1:55 mile. Verruso finished in fifth place with a first quarter score of 28.1 from Cheese Omelet (Frank Tsipouras), who then cruised to a 58.1 half. He accelerated down the backstretch, at which point Verruso turned Iammrbrightside N of the pylons and surged from midfield towards the leader in the rush to three-quarters, with a time of 1:26.3. Iammrbrightside N never gave in in the final quarter mile and immediately overhauled Cheese Omelet to stay clear for a 1-1/2 length win. Cheese Omelette placed second, Redding Hanover (Joe Lee) finished third and Master Miki (Geovany Hernandez) finished fourth.
Veronica Spicer trains Iammrbrightside N, a 15-year-old stallion from Julius Caesarfor owner Anthony Verruso. He paid $4 to win.
AHDC action resumes with trotting divisions at Pocono Downs on Saturday (November 1) and pacing divisions at Harrah’s Philadelphia on Sunday (November 2). Post time for the first race at Pocono is 1:00 PM (EDT) and 12:40 PM (EDT) at Harrah’s Philadelphia.
For full race results, click here: American trotting results.
Through Ray Cotolofor the AHDC
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