Down the road for Yogi in AHDC Series

FREEHOLD, N.J.— Another day, another down-the-road mission completed by amateur harness racing driver Yogi Sheridan as he piloted odds-on choice Cheyenne Ryan Lee (Roll With Joe) to a front-stepping victory in the $9,000 American Harness Drivers Club (AHDC) Pace at Freehold Raceway on Friday afternoon (April 14).

Sheridan shot from the pylon post to the point to lead Vintage Gal (driven by Anthony Verruso) to a :27.4 first quarter while Chumlee A (Jim King Solomon) raced parked from third. With nowhere to sit, Chumlee A pressed forward to contest the lead with Cheyenne Ryan Lee through a :57 half, but the wide route took its toll as he began to falter along the rim up the backstraight.

Cheyenne Ryan Lee, having an anchor back through the field, scooted to a three-length lead by three-quarters in 1:26.1. Heart On My Sleeve (James Slendorn) tipped out of fourth and attempted to close on the leader’s margin spinning for home, but Cheyenne Ryan Lee built enough cushion to stroll in a 1-1/4-length winner in 1:56.3. Heart On My Sleeve settled for second with Johnny Q (Mark Schullstrom) finishing third and Rockabilly Charm (Melissa Arbia) closing for fourth.

CHEYENNE RYAN LEE / YOGI SHERIDAN REPLAY

Alexandra Goldin trains Cheyenne Ryan Lee, a 7-year-old gelding, for owner Antoinette Bencivenne. He paid $2.60 to win.

AHDC action resumes at Freehold Raceway on Saturday (April 15) with two $9,000 divisions of the AHDC Trot – one carded as Race 5 and the other as Race 8 on the 12-race card. First-race post time at Freehold is 12:30 p.m. (EDT).

For complete race results, click here.

by Ray Cotolo, for the AHDC