Both of the co-feature $12,600 harness racing trots at Harrah’s Philadelphia Wednesday (Aug. 30) were won by longshots.
In the 8th race, Kountry Express (Father Patrick) and driver-trainer Trond Smedshammer went right to the lead and never looked back at odds of 15-1.
Cutting fractions of :28.4, :59.4 and 1:28.1, Kountry Express won with ease by three and one-half lengths in 1:57.4. The pocket-sitting Barkeeper (Simon Allard) was second with Tomac Hanover (Jonathan Ahle) third.
It was the second win in three lifetime starts for Kountry Express, who is owned by the M3 Racing Stable and paid $32.00 to win.
KOUNTRY EXPRESS REPLAY
Then in the 10th race co-feature, it was Steve Smith giving Strongerwithlindy (Walner) a perfect outside trip in winning at odds of 7-1.
Pauc Hanover (Corey Callahan) cut the mile from the start with Full Scale (Ridge Warren) getting the two-hole trip to the first quarter in :28.3 and the half mile in :58.3.
Then race favorite All A Twitter (Andy McCarthy) came first-over with Strongerwithlindy and Steve Smith following second-over to the three quarters in 1:28.3.
By the top of the stretch Strongerwithlindy fanned out three-wide and was able to come on in the stretch to win by one length in 1:58.4. Jolly Rancher (David Miller) was second with Count The Coin (Troy Beyer) third.
STRONGERWITHLINDY REPLAY
It was a lifetime mark and the first win of the season for Strongerwithlindy. The four-year-old stallion is trained by Karen Garland for owners Harvey Eisman, Shari Watchman and Steve Smith. He paid $17.20 to win.
For complete race results, click here: US Trotting results.
by Steve Wolf, for Harnesslink