Lunar posts fastest mile of the season at Philly

CHESTER PA – The Sweet Lou gelding Lunar, enjoying a rich vein of harness racing form since joining up with trainer Hunter Oakes and owner Carmen Iannacone via claim at the end of March, paced the fastest mile of the season at Harrah’s Philadelphia, 1:48.4, in winning the $13,000 featured fast-class event at the riverside oval.

LUNAR REPLAY

Jack Pelling was able to reserve his horse midpack as Hunting Zone was hard-used to get the lead in a :26.3 opener. Lunar stayed against the pylons as no outer tier formed as the pacesetter hit the half in a demanding :54.2, then moved uncovered late in the backstretch towards the 1:21 three-quarters.

Lunar went right up to challenge the leader and went right by early in the lane, winning by 2½ lengths over the closing odds-on favorite Hellabalou, with Dublin Dasher also moving well late for third, followed by Hunting Zone. The 1:48.4 clocking equaled Lunar’s lifetime best.

A $12,000 pace for younger, developing males provided the setting for the Bettor’s Wish sophomore gelding Odds On Wildfire to take his second straight victory, here in 1:52.2 for driver-trainer-owner Geovany Hernandez.

The three-year-old made the top just past the ¼, backed off the half then increased the speed down the backstretch and around the far turn while looking in control. “Wildfire” then drifted a bit in both mind and body with just more than an eighth left, but provisional driver Hernandez (only driving since September but already with 27 wins and a 17% strike rate) got the pacer straightened away, and the pair won safely.

ODDS ON WILDFIRE REPLAY

In the $11,000 handicap for top-priced claiming pacers, the Heston Blue Chip gelding Hello Gorgeous was able to ride in the pocket behind a fast pace, then moved out on the final turn, sweeping by handily to win in 1:51.4 for his second straight victory. David Miller drove the Izzy Estrada trainee, who is owned by Estrada Racing LLC.

The pairing of Miller and Estrada matched together the two horsemen who won three races on the program. Miller got his wins for three different trainers, while Estrada’s trio each won for a different sulkysitter.

The draw for the “Super Sunday” card next Sunday (May 25) will be held this coming Wednesday; a release about the big program should be sent out later in the day. Philly continues on its standard schedule of Thursday and Friday at 12:25 and Sunday at 12:40. Free Philly program pages are or will be available at www.phha.org.

For complete race results, click here: US Trotting results.

From the PHHA/Harrah’s Philadelphia