The American Harness Drivers Club (AHDC) amateur series held a championship and a consolation race during the Sunday (Aug. 29) card at The Downs at Mohegan Sun Pocono, and on a night not favourable to speed, 2013 Amateur Driver of the Year Steve Oldford was able to overcome a long grinding trip with the millionaire Zooming to catch three-time Amateur Driver kingpin Bob Hechkoff and Southwind Frost in 1:56 and take the $15,000 Championship event.
Hechkoff had won wire-to-wire in last week’s AHDC race at Pocono, and he pursued the same path to the winner's circle with a changing cast of characters behind him until Oldford got Zooming clear and in gear down the back. The pacesetter’s lead was steady whittled down in the last three-eighths, and Oldford kept the 13-year-old to business and guided him home a length to the good for his 69th victory. Amber Buter trains the veteran, who is co-owned by Oldford Racing LLC and Buter Farm Inc.
In the AHDC consolation, driver Tony Verruso knew his horse, Big Nudge, was not an early speedster, but the type who can grind all day. Verruso had used those tactics in two recent victories with the horse, and here he repeated the strategy, pulling the Donato Hanover gelding at the quarter and just letting him grind up to challenge pacesetting River Otter. Big Nudge showed his determination by catching his rival by a neck for Verruso and trainer Symon Spicer, the latter co-owner with George Beck and Michael Sherman Jr.
The top purse event on the card was a $19,300 distaff pace for high-level mares, with the well-traveled developing star Braxten Boyd winning with his first drive ever at Pocono, and that with the longest shot on the board – the Woodstock mare Bye Bye Felicia, who equaled her mark of 1:50.3 for trainer Bo Hallett and owner Rick Howles. Boyd kept his 12-1 horse off a cutthroat early battle, grinded up first-over and took over in the stretch, then withheld Pansy’s Image by a neck.
Conditioned trotters take the spotlight during Monday’s (Aug. 30) 12:30 p.m. (EDT) card at Pocono, with $11,200 divisions of the featured class in races eight and ten. Program pages are available at the PHHA website.
(PHHA / Pocono)