McCarthy brothers fire up at Philly

CHESTER PA – The McCarthy brothers, Andrew and Todd, each drove a heavily-backed harness racing favorite in the two $14,400 distaff pacing features on a hot Thursday afternoon card at Harrah’s Philadelphia.

Andrew went first and had the faster winner at 1:51.4, the sophomore filly Odds On Hail Mary (Heston Blue Chip).

She rolled up to the lead just before the half and just kept on rolling, although early leader Square Deal made a spirit stretch comeback to miss by a neck and complete a Heston Blue Chip-sired exacta.

A winner in 1:49 in a Pennsylvania Sire stakes contest in June, Odds On Hail Mary is trained by Linda Toscano for Odds On Racing (a good name for a stable whose winner went off at 1-20).

ODDS ON HAIL MARY REPLAY

Todd also clicked with a 1-20 shot, the Sweet Lou sophomore miss Quick E, who lost both her starts at two but is now undefeated in six 2023 starts after winning in 1:52.4 on the engine. Falana Hanover came up uncovered and did well to get within two lengths of the winner, who is conditioned by Brett Pelling for Let It Ride Stables Inc. and Bottom Line Racing LLC.

QUICK E REPLAY

Todd McCarthy and Tim Tetrick tied for the afternoon’s honors among the drivers with four wins each. Ironically, the win that allowed Todd to catch Tim was with a horse named Jokic – the NBA champion and superstar, and a very good friend of Tetrick’s. On the training side, Chuck Crissman Jr. continued winning at a high clip by sending out three winners.

Trotters have the spotlight at Harrah’s Philadelphia the next three racing cards, with 12:25 cards on Friday and Wednesday featuring Pennsylvania Sire Stakes and Stallion Series contests for two-year-old trotters, the colts on Friday and the fillies on Wednesday. In between, there will be a 12:40 card on Sunday, topped by a $20,000 Open handicap trot.

Program pages for all races at Harrah’s Philadelphia are or will be available here.

For complete race results, click here.

From the PHHA / Harrah’s Philadelphia