Driver George Brennan, who came to Harrah’s Philadelphia for a single drive on Wednesday afternoon (May 30), certainly picked the right horse for whom to make the journey, as he guided the American Ideal mare Touchamatic to a new mark of 1:50. The clocking lowered her old standard by three full seconds, and she did so while capturing the $17,000 featured pace for distaffers.

Brennan moved Touchamatic out from fourth just past the half and got the fast mare in gear quickly. She paced her personal third quarter in :26 to clear just past the three quarters pole. She then went on to draw off in what was a four-length score. Kaitlyn N, who had been undefeated in her three prior North American starts, was shuffled when the lead changed hands, but came back on later to finish second. The favoured Dr Js Kiss, finished third.

Touchamatic doesn’t seem to mind going the raw journey. In the four wins that she’s posted in her last eight starts, all have come via the grinding route. Nik Drennan trains the winner of $160,097 for the partnership of Joseph Davino, Patrick O’Brien, Brad Shackman, and the Drennan Stable LLC.

(With files from the PHHA / Harrah’s Philadelphia)