Mad River flows to Philly win

CHESTER PA – Mad River (Sweet Lou) remained undefeated after two 2025 harness racing starts, taking the $13,500 handicap pacing feature for developing horses at Harrah’s Philadelphia on Sunday afternoon in 1:53.

Andrew McCarthy spotted the three-year-old Sweet Lou colt, owned by David Sarafian, fourth early, then commenced a brush past a :27 quarter that carried him to the lead in a :55.2 half. Mad River remained in control through a 1:23.1 three-quarters, and though tiring a little late he still had enough to defeat Discovery, parked the mile, by 1¾ lengths.

MAD RIVER REPLAY

Per Engblom is the trainer of Mad River, and he is also the conditioner of one of the winners in the $12,000 paces for young horses one level below the feature, the Captain Crunch mare Access Granted, who stopped the timer in 1:54.3. Tim Tetrick gave the winner a trip similar to that of Mad River, moving from midpack and brushing to the lead in the second quarter, then pacing to the wire three lengths to the good in the distaff class. Access Granted is owned by Morrison Racing Stables.

In the co-featured section for male pacers, another Captain Crunch offspring, the four-year-old gelding T H Tyson, circled up from last at the half with a bold steady gain, then forged to the lead approaching midstretch to win in 1:52.4 after coming his own last half in :54.3. A checkgetter in the Governor’s Cup at two, but then only a two-time starter at three and coming off a 345-day absence, T H Tyson showed plenty of desire in his comeback win for driver Patrick Ryder, trainer/father Chris, and the patient partnership of Mac Nichol, FAC Racing LLC, Robert Mondillo, and Carl Sackheim.

Four-time defending Philly driving champion Tim Tetrick had three victories Sunday; doubles were achieved by drivers Andrew McCarthy, David Miller, and George Napolitano Jr. and by trainers Per Engblom and Shaun Vallee.

Racing resumes at Harrah’s Philadelphia on Thursday at 12:25 p.m., with the return of the popular “Trottin’ Thursday” cards; the $15,000 diamondgaited feature finds Resolve To Win installed as the early choice. Harrah’s will also race Friday at 12:25, then will be dark on Easter Sunday. 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