More The Better N, having to come from eighth at the half in a third-over flow, was just along to take his United States debut, a $30,000 Great Northeast Series open pace, in 1:49.1 on Sunday afternoon (July 15) at Harrah’s Philadelphia.
Corey Callahan took back with his horse at the start as early command was taken by Caviart Luca, who in turn yielded to Western Joe before the :26.1 quarter. The outer tier formed as Western Joe went to the half in :54.3, with favoured Split The House, Sunfire Blue Chip and More The Better N the first three in the two-wide flow. Split The House had moved into second and a challenging position by the three-quarters in 1:21.3, with the two in behind him keeping in close attendance.
Turning for home, Sunfire Blue Chip fanned three-wide, and through the stretch it looked as if Split The House and Sunfire Blue Chip would be the major contestants, but Callahan had More The Better N flying four-wide inside the final sixteenth, getting by Sunfire Blue Chip by a head. Split The House missed taking the big end of the purse by only a neck, and Western Joe was only three-quarters of a length off while fourth in the exciting drive to the wire.
More The Better N came from New Zealand with 14 wins and $430,168 in earnings over 32 starts, and did not take long to show he can go with a very high level of pacer on these shores. Ross Croghan is handling his conditioning for the Robert Cooper Stable LLC and J&T Silva Stables LLC. The crowd’s lack of familiarity with the abilities of the winner, which allowed him to be the day’s big payoff at $16.60, will surely be reduced after his impressive local bow.
(PHHA/Harrah's Philadelphia)