Yogi Sheridan and Mike Polansky both guided their respective trotters from well off the speed to score victories in a pair of $12,329 races for the American Harness Drivers Club (AHDC) at Freehold Raceway on Saturday afternoon, April 27.
Sheridan methodically ground through the mile with Dingle (pictured above) out of post eight to a blowout 2:00.2 victory in the first division. Dingle floated away seventh to a :29.1 first quarter as SS Tys Aflyin (Bob Hechkoff) blasted toward the lead, but soon relinquished control to pylon-starter Awol Hanover (Steven Reisenweaver). As the coals dimmed to a 1:00.1 half, Sheridan and Dingle advanced along the rim and laid aim on Awol Hanover moving for the backside. Awol Hanover moved steadily up the backstretch while Dingle came with steam and overhauled the tempo-setter by three-quarters in 1:31.2. Dingle continued plugging forward through the final turn and down the lane on a widening advantage capped at 8-1/4 lengths by the beam from Awol Hanover in second. Brownie (Mike Polansky), the 2-1 favourite, settled for third and Ghibli (Anthony Verruso) came from last for fourth.
Tim Lancaster trains and co-owns Dingle, a five-year-old mare by Explosive Matter, for Mark and Meghan Lancaster. The trotting mare paid $8.40 to win.
A similar steady march from off the speed landed My Big Kadillac and Mike Polansky into the winner’s circle in the second division. Polansky landed seventh with My Big Kadillac while Pilsner Frosty (Paul Minore) seized the lead past a :29.2 first quarter from Archibald (Anthony Verruso). Pilsner Frosty then faced first-over pressure to a :59.3 half from Empereurthebest FR (James Slendorn), which persisted and increased to three-quarters in 1:30.1. Empereurthebest FR began tiring from the wide trip through the final turn and Pilsner Frosty clung to a leg-weary lead turning for home as a pair from the backfield swarmed. My Big Kadillac, who began his move on the rim past the half, motored off his cover and grabbed the lead late in the stretch to post a 2:02 win by three-quarters of a length. Grafenberg (Joe Faraldo) followed his rally to take second with Pilsner Frosty holding third and Masster Blue (Joe Lee) taking fourth.
Polansky also trains and owns My Big Kadillac, a 10-year-old gelding by Kadabra. The winner returned $7.
AHDC action resumes next Saturday, May 4 at Freehold Raceway. First-race post time at Freehold is 12:30 p.m. (EDT).
(With files from AHDC)