Trotters advancing up the ladder at Philly

CHESTER, PA – There were a pair of $12,600 trotting events for harness racing horses looking to work their way up the class ladder in the featured slots at Harrah’s Philadelphia on Thursday afternoon (Sep. 8).

The Father Patrick mare Thesunrisesagain had been showing signs of promise in recent starts, but few expected her to turn in a 1:55 victory that bettered her lifetime mark.

Driver Corey Callahan gave her the “go” word from the start, and she rattled off splits of :27.3, :57.1, and 1:24.4 while opening an ever-increasing lead through the last half, finally crossing the wire eight lengths ahead of Mojave Hanover.

Jonas Czernyson conditions the improving distaff for Consus Racing Stable Inc.

THESUNRISESAGAIN REPLAY

In the other feature trot, Cocktail Promise got to set a very soft pace of :29, :59.2, and 1:29.4, but right behind sat the Chapter Seven sophomore colt Distance Learning, and the latter horse went by the pacesetter by half a length to take a new mark of 1:58.3, making him two for two with trotting hopples.

The Philly meet’s winningest horsemen, driver Tim Tetrick and trainer Per Engblom, combined on the victory for JJ Racing Stable Inc.

DISTANCE LEARNING REPLAY

Tetrick came back to take the $11,200 fast-class trot with Bank Box Treasure (Break The Bank K) by the slimmest of margins over Epos Ostervang DK in 1:55.1 for his second straight triumph. The victorious gelding got around “Epos” to the :27.3 quarter, went mid fractions of :57.2 and 1:25.2 while seeing the first-over off, then turned his attention inside to the potential pocket rocket, finding gameness to record the photo victory. Gilbert Garcia-Owen trains the winner for owner/father Gilbert Garcia-Herrera.

“Trottin’ Thursday” was also another “yellow/green/white” day for feature race winners and overall, at Harrah’s Philly, as Tim Tetrick picked up four victories, with Corey Callahan parading back first three times. In fact, those colors were worn by the drivers of the 1-2-3 finishers of the final race, as Troy Beyer (who had two wins today, as did Tyler Miller) finished ahead of Callahan and Tetrick with the wire-to-wire pacing winner Voyager in 1:52.

This was the first day of the fall basic schedule at Harrah’s Philadelphia, which will feature racing on Thursdays and Fridays at 12:25 and Sundays at 12:40 p.m. Friday’s card will have a carryover of $3320.33 into the third race Super Hi-5 wager. Program pages are or will be available by clicking here. 

For complete race results, click here.

From the PHHA/Harrah’s Philadelphia