Yogi Sheridan once again snagged top billing in the $9,000 American Harness Drivers Club (AHDC) Pace at Freehold Raceway, but on Friday (April 21), the victory did not come as simply as a pillar-to-post job.
Leaving from post six, Sheridan fired Missile Seelster for the point three-wide, but faced a stiff challenge from Prince Aston (Pearly Allen) to the pylons. The tandem clicked the quarter in :27.4 while Sights On You (Bob Hechkoff) pulled back to take the second-over spot since Prince Aston kept Missile Seelster parked through a :58 half.
Prince Aston and Missile Seelster remained tooth against nail to three-quarters in 1:27.3 as the back field readied for a late bid. But the race remained between the pair through the lane and Missile Seelster overpowered Prince Aston to the finish to take a neck victory in 1:57.1 while Johnny Q (Mark Schullstrom) sat a pocket trip to finish third and Big Bad Bill (Joe Lee) zipped from last for fourth.
Missile Seelster, a seven-year-old gelding by Bettors Delight, is trained by Izzy Estrada for owner Estrada Racing LLC. He paid $4.40 to win.
AHDC action returns to Freehold Raceway on Saturday, April 22 with two $9,000 divisions of the AHDC Trot, carded as Race 3 and Race 5 on the 11-race program. First-race post time at Freehold is 12:30 p.m. (EDT).
(AHDC)