Philly hosts AHDC trio
CHESTER, Pa.— Geovany Hernandez delivered twice as the favorite while Bruno Chiodo romped in their respective $7,500 harness racing dashes of the American Harness Drivers Club (AHDC) at Harrah’s Philadelphia on Sunday (Nov. 24).
Hernandez won first in the lone trotting division behind 9-5 chalk Archibald (Archangel) in a 1:58.1 mile. Parked through a :27.4 first quarter, Hernandez found a tow forward from Kobe B (driven by Yogi Sheridan) and advanced from second over towards tempo-setter Big Nudge (Anthony Verruso) approaching a :57.2 half. Archibald remained perched on cover through three-quarters in 1:26.4 and lifted off the helmet spinning for home to push to a 1-1/4-length win at the beam. Kobe B grabbed second from Big Nudge while pocket-sitter Awol Hanover (Steven Reisenweaver) gave chase in fourth.
ARCHIBALD REPLAY
Symon Spicer trains Archibald, a 10-year-old gelding, for owner Michael Sherman Jr. He paid $5.60 to win.
Hernandez popped pocket with Phelgon (Rockin Image) in the second division of the AHDC Pace to post a 1:55.1 win as the 3-5 favorite. Seated behind pacesetter Western Bayama (Frank Tsipouras) through a clip of :28.2, :58.3 and 1:26.2, Hernandez fired his charge for the lead in the homestretch and snatched the victory by a half length at the beam. Boiler Maker (Neil Glasser) closed from last for third, another six lengths behind, and A J Morelli (Matt Zuccarello) stalled from a first-over bid but took fourth.
PHELGON REPLAY
Geovany Hernandez owns and trains Phelgon, a 6-year-old mare. She paid $3.20 to win.
Bruno Chiodo blew away the competition in the first division of the AHDC Pace with an open-length win behind Lovethewayyoulie (Rockin Image) in a 1:52.3 mile. Chiodo sat in the pocket while 3-2 favorite Hes Rockin Ralphie (Frank Tsipouras) zipped by a :26.3 first quarter and stayed on the pedal to a :54.3 half.
But once Master Miki (Geovany Hernandez) backtracked from his first-over bid, Chiodo lunged Lovethewayyoulie off the pegs and grabbed command heading to three-quarters in 1:23. Chiodo continued to widen his lead through the turn and in the stretch to cross the finish 7-1/2 lengths better than Urban Renewal (Neil Glasser) rallying for second. Hes Rockin Ralphie finished third and Fugleman (Matt Zuccarello) saved ground for fourth.
LOVETHEWAYYOULIE REPLAY
Stacy Chiodo trains Lovethewayyoulie, a 5-year-old gelding, for owner Chiodo Racing LLC. He paid $11 to win.
AHDC action resumes at Freehold Raceway on Saturday (Nov. 30). First-race post time at Freehold is 12:30 p.m. (EST).
For complete race results, click here: US Trotting results.
by Ray Cotolo, for the AHDC
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