Maidens score in $93,200 John Simpson Stake

CHESTER, PA – It was an unusual Friday afternoon (Oct. 21) at Harrah’s Philadelphia, as most of the feature races, including the two divisions of the $93,200 Razzle Hanover, the John Simpson Sr. Memorial stake for two-year-old harness racing pacing fillies, were taken by horses coming from well off the pace on the normally speed-favoring track.

The Always B Miki – Emily Car filly Extreme Z Tam was reserved along the inside in the first Razzle Hanover/Simpson division by trainer/driver Pat Lachance, then came closing strongly up the open stretch, pacing her own last quarter in :27 to catch the pacesetter favorite Ginger Tree Coco by a neck. The winning time of 1:53.3 was perforce a lifetime race mark since it was the first purse victory for Extreme Z Tam, who is owned by Lachance, M & M Harness Racing LLC, and Royal Flush Stable LLC. She paid $25.00 to win.

EXTREME Z TAM REPLAY

Also winning a purse race for the first time in her career was the Sweet Lou – Luvthebeachlife miss IIluvloucy, who was still last at the head of the stretch, but who made up four lengths in the stretch for driver Corey Callahan to catch the first-over favorite Falana Hanover by half a length in 1:54.1.

Travis Alexander conditions the filly for M Spacc Stables, Fiddler’s Creek Stables LLC, D’Elegance Stable IX and T L P Stable. She paid $5.20 to win.

ILLUVLOUCY REPLAY

The closer theme also held up in the $22,500 handicap pace for fast-class distaffs, as the McArdle mare McMarkle Sparkle, winner of three of her last four at the difficult-to-rally Yonkers venue, sat last to the stretch call after being assigned the outermost slot.

Troy Beyer got the tough mare rolling late and came on to catch the pacesetting West Beach by a length in 1:52.3, pacing her own back fractions in :54.2 – :27. McMarkle Sparkle now has 10 victories and $221,390 on the year and $549,307 lifetime for trainer Scott Di Domenico and owner Laura Baker.

The one feature winner who took his event on the engine is the one you could have predicted beforehand –the well-named early flyer Ruthless Hanover (Somebeachsomewhere). George Napolitano Jr. had the gelding buzzing away quickly, but met early resistance from Ilikemebettor A, impressive in his first two Stateside starts, and needed to unleash a :25.4 opener to clear.

Nobody wanted to challenge “Ruthless” in quarter two, thus the half in :54.4, and the pacesetter tacked on a further fractional of 1:21.4 before holding off the late surge of Ilikemebettor A by a half-length in 1:49. (Excluding the second quarter, that’s 1:20 for the other three quarters.)  Ruthless Hanover has now won four in a row for Team Cancelliere, trainer Tom and owner John.

After a day away from the top of the standings at Philly, Simon Allard joined George Napolitano Jr. with wins on Friday – making it ten times in the last 11 local cards that Allard has been top or co-top driver. During the 11four -card stretch, Allard has won 36 times.

The Simpson stakes continues on Sunday at Philly with two divisions of the $106.200 Davidia Hanover for two-year-old trotting fillies. Program pages are or will be available by clicking here.

For complete race results, click here.

From the PHHA / Harrah’s Philadelphia