Mr Bluebird soars to fourth straight victory

CHESTER PA – Mr Bluebird hadn’t raced in 21 days before taking the track as the favorite in the $14,000 feature race for developing trotters on Thursday afternoon at Harrah’s Philadelphia, but as it has been in the past the horses of harness racing trainer Åke Svanstedt are usually ready whenever they go the post, and Mr Bluebird went on to his fourth straight victory, this time in 1:54.3 over a “good” surface.

MR BLUEBIRD REPLAY

Johnathan Ahle sent the son of Six Pack to early command, yielded before the :27.3 opener, but was soon back on the move to the top and got a :57.2 breather to the midpoint. Second choice Super Duper Cooper came uncovered down the backstretch, reached the leader by the 1:25.4 three-quarters, and tried hard through the stretch, but Mr Bluebird had enough in reserve to win by 1½ lengths for  Åke Svanstedt Inc., Little E LLC, and Torbjorn Swahn Inc.

The co-feature trot for upcoming horses, worth $13,500, went to the Bar Hopping gelding Honolulu Hanover, a 1:54.3 winner just after the track rating had been upgraded to “fast.” Honolulu Hanover, the close second choice, sat behind favored Goodgirl Bi IT much of the mile, then came outside and said “adios” (or should that be “aloha”?) to that rival in tallying for driver George Napolitano Jr., trainer Ron Burke, and Burke Racing Stable LLC and Weaver Bruscemi LLC, William Switala, and James Marin.

The two fast-class trot races took place over a “fast” track. The most accomplished of these diamondgaiters met for $13,000 in a handicap event, with Southwind Tyrion odds-on despite the outermost post seven, trying to be another Svanstedt-off-layoff (28 days) winner.

Southwind Tyrion went past Asteroid, a former barnmate of his in the Svanstedt shedrow, on the first turn and put up fractions of :27, :56.3, and 1:23.2. But Asteroid stayed close enough to be able to mount an inside stretch charge, and Asteroid “out-Åked” the chalk by being ready after only a qualifier since his last start on July 7, getting up by half a length in a notable 1:52.1  on a day not conducive to speedy miles. Corey Callahan rallied the Creatine gelding to the victory for trainer Jeff Cullipher and Pollack Racing LLC.

ASTEROID REPLAY

The $11,000 sub-feature for the fast-class diagonally-gaited set also fell to Team Cullipher / Pollack, as the Bar Hopping gelding Usain Hanover went even faster than Creatine did in the feature, crossing the wire tons the best in 1:52. Jack Pelling pointed him to the front early then let his powerful charge take care of the rest, leaving a good field far behind.

Svanstedt and driver Ahle did team for another victory on the card, with the striking piebald (dark body with white patches) freshman colt Nebbiolo, by Captain Corey – Via Lattea IT, who won his second straight in 2:00.2 – :58.2 – :28.3 over a “good” surface for Knutsson Trotting Inc.

Many-time Philly driving champion George Napolitano Jr. drove five winners on the afternoon, including two for trainer Ron Burke. Of the other sulky doublers, Jonathan Ahle got both of his pair for trainer Åke Svanstedt, as noted; Troy Beyer got both of his two for trainer Jim Campbell; and Corey Callahan got one of his two for trainer Jeff Cullipher, who wound up as noted as a doubler in the fast-class trots.

Racing continues at Harrah’s Philadelphia with a Friday 12:25 card and a Sunday 12:40 program; the track will then go dark for live racing until October 10 as the racing surface undergoes refurbishment, but simulcasting will still be available. 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