Million-dollar winner hangs tough in top trot

CHESTER, PA – The $1.2 million-winning eight-year-old harness racing trotter Dayson held off the strong stretch charge of late-developing Baldaquin to win the $16,200 last “Trottin’ Thursday” feature of the year at Harrah’s Philadelphia in 1:55 over good going.

Tim Tetrick moved Dayson out of midpack shortly after a :27.4 quarter, reaching the top well before a :57.1 half.

Baldaquin, a five-year-old making only his 26th lifetime start, was last entering the backstretch, but was soon on the move uncovered and trotted up with a third split of his own in :27.4 to reach the leader’s wheel by the 1:26 three-quarters.

Baldaquin kept to task gamely through the stretch, but the winning Conway Hall gelding had more than enough to win by a neck for trainer Ron Burke and the ownership of Burke Racing Stable LLC and Weaver Bruscemi LLC, taking his 42nd career victory in lifetime start #100.

DAYSON REPLAY

In the $15,300 co-featured trot, Vinny De Vie overcame a first-over journey, wearing down pacesetting three-year-old Tricky Dick by 1½ lengths in 1:56.3. George Napolitano Jr. drove the successful Muscle Hill gelding for trainer Tom Fanning and owner Joseph Smith.

The final card of the 2021 racing season at Harrah’s Philadelphia will take place on the last day of the year, New Year’s Eve, with a special post time of 2:30 p.m. recognizing the large percentage of horseplayers who will also be keeping an eye on the college football semifinal bowl games. Program pages are available at www.phha.org/harrahspps.html.

For full race results, click here.

From the PHHA/Harrah’s Philadelphia