Hernandez, Baker take AHDC paces

CHESTER, Pa.— Geovany Hernandez went pillar to post while Bruce Baker rushed off the speed to win their respective $8,500 harness racing divisions of the American Harness Drivers Club (AHDC) Pace at Harrah’s Philadelphia on Sunday (Aug. 16).

Hernandez delivered 7-5 favorite Master Miki (Always B Miki) to a front-stepping 1:52.4 victory in the first AHDC Pace. After launching from post 5 for the lead through a :26.4 first quarter, Hernandez parked first-over pursuer Swing Vision (Bruce Baker) while cruising through middle fractions of :56 and 1:24.1. Master Miki slipped away to a two-length lead rounding for home that he expanded to 3-1/4 lengths at the beam while Swing Vision gave chase from the wide trip for second. Shore Of Himself (Yogi Sheridan) snagged third from pocket-chasing Wilsons Vinner (Tony Beltrami) in fourth.

MASTER MIKI REPLAY

An 8-year-old gelding by Always B Miki, Master Miki competes for owner-trainer Geovany Hernandez. He paid $5.20 to win.

Bruce Baker later catapulted off slow fractions past dueling leaders to land a 9-1 upset with Cheese Omelet in the other AHDC Pace. Baker settled into sixth while Better Than Some (Yogi Sheridan) and Uncle Coz (William Clark Jr.) sparred for the lead through a :26.4 first quarter. Sheridan reined in his charge, as did Clark to the outside, and the battling leaders both grabbed a breather to a :57 half and to three-quarters in 1:27.3. Lazaruls (Joe Lee) perched onto cover second over and Baker followed suit into a third-over seat with Cheese Omelet before letting him rip off the final turn. Cheese Omelet reeled in his competition to land a half length in front at the beam over Lazaruls while Uncle Coz took third and Better Than Some tired to fourth.

CHEESE OMELET REPLAY

Veronica Spicer trains Cheese Omelet, an 8-year-old gelding by American Ideal, for owners Dante Scattolini and Evgeniya Scattolini. He paid $21.20 to win.

For complete Philly race results, click here: US Trotting results.

On Saturday (Aug. 15), Pocono Downs hosted a single $10,000 dash for the American Harness Drivers Club Trot won by Austin Brubacker with Ezra, sent the second-longest shot on the board, in a 1:57.2 mile. Brubacker sat last while Bank Box Treasure (John Calabrese) cut a tempo of :27.3, :56.4 and 1:27.2, but then lifted his charge moving for the last turn. Ezra built momentum and towered over his foes through the lane to reach the finish a nose better than Jacked (Joe Lee) while Bank Box Treasure took third, another three lengths behind, and pocket-sitter Certify (Mike Polansky) checked in fourth.

Brubacker owns and trains Ezra, a 7-year-old gelding by Swan For All. He paid $36.80 to win.

AHDC action resumes with trotting divisions scheduled at Pocono Downs for Saturday (Aug. 22) and pacing divisions scheduled at Harrah’s Philadelphia for Sunday (Aug. 23). First-race post time on Saturday at Pocono is 1 p.m. (EDT) and 12:40 p.m. on Sunday at Harrah’s Philadelphia.

by Ray Cotolo, for the AHDC