Youngsters get Philly headlines

CHESTER, PA – Younger horses led off the harness racing headliners for this week at Harrah’s Philadelphia, with four $12,600 divisions of the “nw 3 races” class giving up-and-comers a chance to show their developing abilities.

The Heston Blue Chip sophomore gelding Dragon City was sitting in the pocket around the far turn in his division, awaiting clearance, and when first-over Pick A Genre bore out, driver Troy Beyer pulled on the right line, and he got the winner of four of nine home by a head over the resurgent Pick A Genre in 1:53. Joe Karrat conditions the consistent (eight of nine starts finishing 1-2-3) pacer for owner Jerry Zollo.

DRAGON CITY REPLAY

The other contest for pacing males was also taken by driver Troy Beyer with Pompeo Hanover in 1:54.2.

Beyer may be the one horseman who has had a good deal of success rallying horses from well off the pace at this speed-favoring oval, and here the victorious sophomore gelding by Betting Line came from four-wide at headstretch to pick up favored Effingham by a neck for trainer Jake Leamon and owner Marvin Rounick.

POMPEO HANOVER REPLAY

The section for distaff pacers saw the Sweet Lou three-year-old Blazing Ramona squeak into this class through the AE provision (her bankroll before the race of $29,532 was just under the “nw $30,000 lifetime” boundary), and that’s how she recorded her third win in four starts at this level. Jack Pelling pulled the pocket on 100-1 pacesetter Sandradimples entering the backstretch and those two had a hard battle the rest of the way, with Blazing Ramona finally getting the decision of the mare who defied her odds by a neck. Leah Vandervort trains the winner for Anatolia Racing LLC.

BLAZING RAMONA REPLAY

A division for trotters went to the Detour Hanover filly You’re Dead To Me, who took the lead past the quarter and staved off the pocket-sitting Fashion Cocktail by three-quarters of a length while reducing her mark to 1:56.3.

Corey Callahan drove the sophomore for the brother team of trainer Tom and owner John Cancelliere.

YOU’RE DEAD TO ME REPLAY

In the $11,200 fast-class pace, the Shadow Play gelding Jack’s Shadow N went to the lead past the quarter then steamed home in :55.2 – :27.3 for a 1:51.3 victory, three-quarters of a length ahead of pocketsitter Benhope Rulz N.

Tim Tetrick was in charge of the winner of $250,041 for trainer Scott DiDomenico and the partnership of Triple D Stables Inc., Oompa’s Farm Inc., and Robert Mondillo.

JACK’S SHADOW N REPLAY

The colors yellow and green figured in many of the winners mentioned above: Horses pulling drivers wearing those colors visited Victory Lane ten times today. Troy Beyer led the sulkysitters with four victories, while Corey Callahan and Tim Tetrick both notched three tallies.

“Trottin’ Thursday” will again gather together fast horses such as Amigo Volo and JL Cruze in a $22,500 handicap event.

On Friday Jimmy Freight, rated #1 in the sport’s Top Ten poll for several weeks before taking some time off, will compete three days after qualifying here in 1:50.4 in his $22,500 pacing handicap event; there will also be a $22,500 pacing mares handicap feature, with Betsy Ross winner Majorca N at the riverside oval.

Post time both days will be at 12:25 p.m.; program pages are or will be available by clicking here.

For complete race results, click here.

From the PHHA / Harrah’s Philadelphia