Eurobond leads the way at Harrah’s Philly

CHESTER, PA – The 1-2-3 finishers in the $13,000 featured trot Thursday afternoon (May 23) at Harrah’s Philadelphia collectively went over the $5 million lifetime earnings harness racing milestone, as Eurobond (Love You, $728,400) defeated Crystal Fashion ($2,341,250) by three-quarters of a length, with JL Cruze ($1,938,160) another length back in third.

JL Cruze had the lead at the :27.1 quarter, with David Miller, a three-time winner on the day, sending favored Eurobond frontbound in front of the stands and getting to the half in :55.2.

Crystal Fashion, who had tucked fourth early, went up uncovered to challenge before the 1:23.2 three-quarters and tried hard but couldn’t get by the winner, with JL Cruze keeping up fairly well after his pocket trip.

Eurobond is trained by Per Engblom for Morrison Racing Stables. He is nine, as is Crystal Fashion; JL Cruze is still in the fight against tough stock at age thirteen.

EUROBOND REPLAY

In the $11,000 trotting fast-class subfeature, The Gruffalo (Chapter Seven) overcame a tuck-then-first-up journey, holding off favored Sinatra De Vie by a neck at the end of a 1:53.4 mile. He was driven by Andrew McCarthy for trainer Mark Harder, who is also co-owner with Racing Team Of America, Deena Frost, and Emma Pettersson.

THE GRUFFALO REPLAY

There were a pair of $12,000 events for developing horses, one on each gait, and both won by Tim Tetrick, who rang up a total of five triumphs on the day to extend his meet lead over David Miller to 32-28.

On the trot, the Father Patrick sophomore gelding I’m Out worked hard to get the lead, set the rest of the pace, then withstood G Load by a half-length for Triple D Stables Inc. and Joe Faraldo while lowering his mark to 1:55. Winning trainer Scott Di Domenico had a pair of victories (both driven by Tetrick), and was joined as a conditioning doubler in the last race by Bill MacKenzie.

I’M OUT REPLAY

On the pace, Fasnacht Hanover (Stay Hungry) took advantage of chief rival Who Said I Can’t drifting out at several points in the race, with that one still finishing second but no match for the winning sophomore colt. Fasnacht Hanover earned a new speed badge of 1:52 for trainer Tony Alagna and owners Marvin & Lynn Katz and Brad Grant.

FASNACHT HANOVER REPLAY

Once again, the “Trottin’ Thursday” slogan at Philly was out in full force effect, as there were five miles in 1:55 or better on the diagonal gait.

Action will resume at Philly on Friday at 12:25 p.m, with a carryover into the fifth race Pick-5. And of course, everybody is gearing up for this week’s gigantic “Super Sunday” card – which will feature, among a very large cast, Ruthless Hanover, Desperate Man, Twin B Joe Fresh, Captain Albano, and Gem Quality, to name just a few. The 16-race card, which begins at 12:40 p.m., will be offering $657,571 to North America’s top pacers and trotters. Free Harrah’s programs are available at www.phha.org.

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

From the PHHA / Harrah’s Philadelphia