Turn The Page just misses world record

CHESTER PA – The mare Turn The Paige and driver Jackie Ingrassia missed the world record for a 5/8-mile trot over a 5/8-mile track by 2/5 of a second while taking a $12,500 event at Harrah's Philadelphia Saturday afternoon in 1:09.2 – but with the energy the winner showed, the record could have been hers with a better trip.

Actually, it's hard to imagine a worse trip for the Cantab Hall mare, who left from post five – three-wide most of the quickly-arriving first turn in the once-around race, and then two-wide raw the duration against pacesetting favorite Hemi Seelster, with fractions of 27.1 and 55.2.

In the stretch it was Turn The Paige and "Lady J" who continued to power to the wire, winning by 2 3/4 lengths over a late-charging Patton, with Hemi Seelster settling for show. Husband-trainer Frank Ingrassia conditions the winner for his wife-owner-driver, and they saw their mare reach earnings of $202,545 with the sprint triumph.

Top purse event on the day at Harrah's was a $17,000 conditioned pace, won in impressive fashion by the Shanghai Phil gelding Makasi while lowering his lifetime mark by almost two seconds to 1:50.2.

Driver/trainer Pat Lachance worked out a fine second-over trip with the winner of $142,409, sent up three-wide on the far turn, and the winner responded with a thumping last quarter of 27.2 to win by 3 1/4 lengths for Hudson Standardbred Stable Inc.

From the PHHA/Harrah's Philadelphia