Top claimers perform at Philly

CHESTER, PA – A pair of $13,000 handicap paces for the top claimers at Harrah’s Philadelphia topped the Sunday afternoon (Oct. 9) harness racing card at the southeast Pennsylvania oval.

In the first feature, Gonnahaveonemore (Mach Three) pushed My Wish Came True well past a :26.4 opener before surrendering the lead to the outside challenger, who put up a :55.4 half then disposed of the first-over horse at the 1:23 three-quarters. All this time Gonnahaveonemore and driver Ridge Warren were sitting in the garden seat, and in the stretch, they were able to outdash the game pacesetter home by a half-length in 1:52. Gilbert Garcia-Owen trains the gelding for Gilbert Garcia-Herrera and Barbara Arnstine.

GONNAHAVEONEMORE REPLAY

The other division saw the red-hot Rickybobbynthehaus (American Ideal) motor to his fourth win in his last six outings, setting fractions of :26.2, :55.1, and 1:22.4 for driver Marcus Miller, then drawing off by 2½ lengths over pocketsitting Tuxedo Bay in 1:52.

He won Sunday for trainer Marc Mosher and owner Jerry Zollo; the bad news for that pair is that he was claimed, but the good news is that in seven days they gained $1,000 in purchase price plus this $6,500 win purse, minus expenses.

RICKYBOBBYNTHEHAUS REPLAY

A youngster who caught the eye during the card was the Sweet Lou freshman colt Loubet, who came home flying in his debut last week and did even better on Sunday. The baby was parked well past a :28.1 quarter to take over the top, but once he did, he posted numbers of :55.4 and 1:23.2, then turned a two-length advantage at headstretch into an 11¼ length devastation of the opposition at the end of a 1:52.1 mile.

A dark horse for the late season stakes, Loubet is trained by Ron Burke for Burke Racing Stable LLC and Weaver Bruscemi LLC, Michelle Yanek, and Phil Collura, and was driven by Simon Allard.

Allard continued his red-hot form streak at Philly, bringing six horses back to the winner’s circle. For the three-day racing week, he had thirteen victories, which has solidified his spot in second in the season-long sulky win totals, behind runaway leader Tim Tetrick.

Harrah’s Philadelphia is now conducting live pari-mutuel racing on Thursdays and Fridays at 12:25 and Sundays at 12:40; this week some spice is added by the Tuesday morning qualifying races, which will see several stakes horses coming off short layoffs in preparation for several rich racing opportunities still left to them before the end of the 2022 season. Program pages for all Philly races are or will be available by clicking here.

For complete race results, click here.

From the PHHA/Harrah’s Philadelphia