The United States Harness Driving Club was gifted with four amateur events at Shenandoah Downs on Saturday, Oct. 14 by Racing Secretary Dee Lineweaver and it was “Yogi” Sheridan who stepped up to the plate with two “home runs” in his four plate appearances, scoring with two “down under” horses — his own Carlas Mach A and Rycroft N, trained by Bryson Dunning for Mark Labbree.

Wyatt Long and Kubi Erzene also reached the winner’s circle during the amateur festivities with Long scoring with Rollatown and Erzene winning with Cole On The Beach.

Newton “Yogi” Sheridan made his first appearance at Shenandoah Downs last week and was so impressed with the facility that he decided to make a return journey to the “Downs” this week and found himself in the winner’s circle in the first of the amateur events.

Driving his own Carlas Mach A, Sheridan sent his charge right to the front and, after securing the top spot at the :28.2 opener, put up mid-race fractions of :58 and 1:27 to put five lengths of daylight on the field, and strolled home in 1:56, winning by 2-3/4 length.

The lightly raced seven-year-old gelding — making only his third start of the year — earned his very first win on U.S. soil after being purchased just recently by Sheridan.

“I bought him from the Amish,” he lamented, “and decided to take a chance with him because I knew he had speed but was, as the seller said, a bit unruly. Well, he certainly was when I got him and I worked with him to try and be a bit calmer and not so headstrong.

“When we were behind the gate today, he was raring to go…and I’m not about fight with a 1,000 pound headstrong horse. So, he just took me around the track and really took off after the half and never relented.”

In that event, Texas Terror N, driven by Kubi Erzene, closed fastest of all to be second while the warhorse, Freak On A Leash, handled by Scott Woogen, was next. Need Arocket, with John McNeil III in the bike, was fourth while Cool Your Heels, last much of the way, finished fifth for Stacey McLenaghan.

Carlas Mach A returned $6.60 to win as second choice in the betting.

Rycroft N gave Sheridan his other win, making a bold, first over bid during the third stanza and looked the leader, Hulou, in the eye before edging to the front and then holding off that stubborn contender, driven by Stacey McLenaghan, by three parts of a length in 1:56.4.

Ive Got Hootspa, with John McNeill III handling the lines, was next while Fox Valley Mondo was fourth for Kubi Erzene. KKs Dream Girl picked up the nickel for Wyatt Long.

The veteran gelding Rycroft N, now 12, earned his third win of the year in 29 starts, pushing his 2023 earnings to $27,790.

The win was also a milestone 40th career win — 34 here in the U.S.  vaulting his career bankroll to $341,355 of which $235,343 has been earned on U.S. soil.

The winner, by the way, paid $12.40 to his faithful.

Wyatt Long reached the coveted winner’s circle with the 10-year-old mare Rollatown, courageously fighting a war with Hey Siri for much of the mile before holding off Im Chiara, driven by Scott Woogen by a half length.

Machet Time, driven by Kubi Erzene, was another neck back in third while Hey Siri, teamed with Justin Griffith, was next. Relentless Dancer closed fastest of all starting from the outside to finish fifth for John McNeil III.

Owned and trained by Archie Buford, Rollatown earned win number four on the semester with 2023 earnings now at $18,339.

The consistent mare now has 30 career wins and $227,159 in bounty.

As the 7-5 favourite, Rollatown paid $4.80 to win.

The five-year-old gelding Cole On The Beach, given patient handling by trainer Kubi Erzene, left alertly to find a spot close up, was in the garden spot past the third station in :26.1 and roared home in :29.1 to score in 1:55.3.

The margin was 3-1/2 lengths over Moneyorroses, driven by Scott Woogen, with Team Captain, closing fastest with alacrity on the far outside, up for third with Wyatt Long.

Early leader Morning Shadow, cutting the mustard for Stacey McLenaghan with fractions of :28.1. :56.4 and 1:26.1, was fourth followed by Allieeverdreamedof, who got the nickel for Yogi Sheridan.

The winner paid $5.00 as the 3-2 choice for owner Eternity Erzene and now has three wins for the year in 30 starts with earnings of $19,725 and $136,049 lifetime.

Yogi Sheridan, who has driven sparingly over the years since 2009, now has 62 career wins — 38 this year with $331,664 in purse earnings, by far, his best year. (He also has 290 career training wins and closing in on $3 million in that department.)

Wyatt Long, now 19 years old, has 19 career wins of which 18 are in 2023. He also notched his first $100,000 season —$111,173 — with a UDRS up around .300.

Kubi Erzene notched his 18th win over the past two seasons and is enjoying his best years in the training column, as well.

All members of the USHDC donate 100 per cent of their earnings for charitable distribution contributing to causes such as the American Cancer Society, aftercare for retired racehorses and training for new vocations such as therapeutics for those in need.

(USHDC)