A trio of $9,900 trots in the American Harness Drivers Club (AHDC) series for amateur drivers were contested on Sunday (June 19) at Harrah's Philadelphia. And yes, it’s a coincidence that the first two letters of AHDC are the first two letters of the last name of 25-year-old Johnathan Ahle, who swept the three events, are the same.
Probably the most popular victory came with the 15-year-old wonder TSM Photo Bugger (allowed to race at 15 in amateur events), who wired his field while drawing away late in 1:55.4. The S Js Photo gelding, trained and leased by Karen Fread, now has 64 victories and earnings of $891,944.
The other two Ahle successes came with horses trained by Terry Morgan: Drazzmatazz, a 1:57.3 winner for Danbry Racing Inc., and Morgan’s own Lionhead in 1:58.1.
A pair of $13,000 paces for fast-class horses helped bring the week to an end on Sunday afternoon.
The division of the feature for males was taken by Mayhem Hanover, a son of Sportswriter who was piloted by Corey Callahan for owner-trainer Jeff Cullipher and co-owner with Pollack Racing LLC. Mayhem Hanover quarter-moved near the :27.1 initial station, took over from Somebaddude, and then had that rival behind him through splits of :55.1, 1:23, and the final clocking in 1:51.1.
In the division for females, the Somebeachsomewhere mare Odds On Whitney showed improved form for trainer Tony Alagna and owners Odds On Racing, taking her first win of the campaign in 1:52.2. Tim Tetrick had the full sister to Papi Rob Hanover in high gear down the backstretch, pacing her third split in :26.2 to surge right to the lead and draw off to an open-length score.
(PHHA / Harrah's Philadelphia)