32-1 longshot scores in $104,100 Simpson Stakes

CHESTER, PA – Harness racing trainer Noel Daley and driver Andrew McCarthy combined to win two of three divisions of the $104,100 Super Bowl, the John Simpson Sr. Memorial stake for two-year-old trotting colts on Thursday afternoon (Oct. 20) at Harrah’s Philadelphia.

One of their winners was the Chapter Seven – Lass A Rope colt Volume Eight, who missed the divisional Philly record by only a tick with his 1:54.3 front-end effort.

The big favorite, coming off a Lexington Grand Circuit win and four of six lifetime, was extended by pocketsitter Father Stosh, but he remained a half a length to the good at the wire for the partnership of Daley, Joe Sbrocco, LA Express & JAF Racing, and Mario Mazza.

His time just missing the standard put in by Once In A Lifetime in winning his Sire Stakes championship on September 4.

VOLUME EIGHT REPLAY

McCarthy/Daley also clicked in the Super Bowl/Simpson with Squared Away, the Cantab Hall – K Squared Hanover colt who sat in the pocket most of the way, pulled out going to the far turn, and went on to be a handy 2¾ length winner while reducing his mark to 1:55.3. Squared Away has now won three straight starts for Morrison Racing Stables.

SQUARED AWAY REPLAY

The other Simpson section produced a “toteboard bomber” as Met Your Request, a gelding by Met’s Hall – Quest Blue Chip, tailed the cover of 2-5 favorite Kimmeridgian through the last half, then went wide and just caught that rival by a neck while taking a new mark of 1:56 and paying $67.40 to win. Tyler Miller drove the three-time winner for trainer/mother Julie and the ownership of Andy Miller Stable Inc. and Mr. Caroll Hoffman.

MET YOUR REQUEST REPLAY

The talented veteran Crystal Fashion, second after a hard-luck journey last week, had fortune more on his side this time around, and won the $22,500 fast-class handicap trot in 1:54.1. Tim Tetrick sent him to command early then let the favorite sit behind close second-choice Ghostintheshell S as that one cut the mile. The victorious Cantab Hall gelding moved out at the three-quarters and circled right to the lead, then held off a strong late bid by 26-1 shot Secret Bro to record a three-quarter length triumph, raising his earnings to $2,191.749 in winning for trainer Chuck Crissman Jr. and EVM Racing LLC.

Tetrick padded his meet-leading win total with seven visits to Victory Lane on the Thursday card.

Simpson series stakes action continues Friday with the $93,200 Razzle Hanover contest for two-year-old trotting fillies; they will be joined by $22,500 fast-class handicap paces separated by sex. The Simpson stakes will be featured the rest of this week and all of next week at Harrah’s Philadelphia. Program pages are or will be available by clicking here.

For complete race results, click here.

From the PHHA / Harrah’s Philadelphia