Atoughnuttocrack was toughest at Philly

CHESTER PA – Thursday afternoon harness racing returned to the basic fall schedule at Harrah’s Philadelphia, with the feature races a trio of $12,000 contests for horses looking to step up the classladder.

In the sole division devoted to pacers, Atoughnuttocrack was allowed to get away at 9-1 despite winning his last start in this class, and the Nutcracker Sweet gelding again posed for the photographer a second straight start after lowering his mark to 1:52.3. Corey Callahan got the sophomore to the lead early, then yielded to favorite American Warrior; he could then rally up the inside in the lane to catch the chalk by a half length for Team Cancelliere – trainer Tom and owner/brother John.

ATOUGHNUTTOCRACK REPLAY

The faster of the two headliners devoted to trotters was the 1:56 mile turned in by the Bar Hopping sophomore trotting filly I See A Star. Ridge Warren moved the consistent miss to the top passing the stands for the first time and the pair were in charge from there, finishing 3¾ lengths clear.

The winner, with a record of 3-3-3 in her last nine starts, is trained by Kerry Welty for owner Brian Emerson.

I SEE A STAR REPLAY

In the other section the Chapter Seven three-year-old colt Thinker Monkey recorded his second straight victory, taking 1:56.2 to cover the mile. Simon Allard had the winner moving well down the backstretch and went right on to the lead nearing the three-quarters, then withstood a resurgent Jesmach On Target by three parts of a length. Marcus Melander conditions the sophomore for Order By Stable AB and Daniel Plouffe.

THINKER MONKEY REPLAY

Tim Tetrick won four races Thursday; unusually, the remaining ten races were won by five drivers taking a pair of victories each: Simon Allard, Troy Beyer, Corey Callahan, George Napolitano Jr., and Ridge Warren. Eddie Sager had a training double.

Friday’s 12:25 card is topped by action for fast-class veterans of the top levels: $15,000 and $14,000 trot and a $13,000 handicap pace. A week from Friday Harrah’s first post will be at 2:30 p.m. on the first of the two days of the runners’ Breeders Cup championships.

Free Philly programs are or will be available at www.phha.org.

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

From the PHHA / Harrah’s Philadelphia