Upset mile in feature trot

CHESTER, PA – The Harrah’s Philadelphia condition sheet had horses who are “non-winners of 5 races” set to be

the feature harness racing performers for the Wednesday afternoon program. The trotters gathered a full field, and raced for $14,400; neither the male nor female pace had enough entrants to fill a field, so they were handicapped to the outside posts and raced against “nw3” horses in $12,600 contests.

In the trot, the Muscle Massive mare Spree took advantage of an opportunistic drive by Todd McCarthy while reducing her mark to 1:56.2.

Coming around the final turn three-wide and looking like she might have to tip four-deep – not a usual route to victory at Philly – Spree and McCarthy got a literal break as pocketsitter Red Redemption went offstride, allowing the pair to duck down to the inside to edge Vinny De Vie by a neck.

A 28-1 proposition, Spree triumphed for trainer Trish Adams and owner Dante Scattolini.

SPREE REPLAY

In both of the paces, the “nw5 entrants” handicapped outside were able to overcome their outer starting slots for victories. In the division for males, Mikibytheseaside and NumberOne Hit were the ones assigned outside; both went off at 6-5; and in the end it was the Always B Miki sophomore gelding Mikibytheseaside, the slight favorite, who visited Victory Lane.

Driver Yannick Gingras sent the winner right to the top, put Number One Hit in behind him, then kept him at bay by 2½ lengths in 1:52.4. Ron Burke trains the winner of $101,162 for Burke Racing Stable LLC and Weaver Bruscemi LLC, Joseph Critelli and Bill Switala.

MIKIBYTHESEASIDE REPLAY

On the distaff side, Capsaicinn, the race favorite, quickly gained control for driver Marcus Miller, then lowered her mark a tick to 1:52.4, staying ahead of pocketsitter Briar by 2¾ lengths. John Butenschoen conditions the Captaintreacherous sophomore for Emerald Highland Farm.

Thursday’s card at Philly is headed by a $15,300 “nw 8 races” trot, with Big Nudge started at 8-5 on the morning line from the rail. Program pages for the 12:25 first race post card are available by clicking here.

For full race results, click here.

From the PHHA/Harrah’s Philadelphia