The fastest two-year-old trotter and pacer over a five-eighths-mile track in 2018, based on reported records at the start of the day, were both on display during the morning session for two-year-olds on Tuesday (June 19) at Harrah’s Philadelphia.

The fastest pacer to date is a filly, Sylph Hanover. The daughter of Somebeachsomewhere, out of the Artiscape mare Shes A Fan, secured the pocket early from Post 8, then smoked home in :55.2 to win by more than 14 lengths in 1:54.3. The clocking knocked one-fifth of a second off the previous seasonal standard which was held by colts Captain Mailcious and Union Station. Sylph Hanover was one of four successful teamings for trainer Ron Burke and driver Yannick Gingras – the latter added a fifth victory for another trainer.

On the trotting side, pedigree alone could have pointed you to Fashion Possessed, who went wire-to-wire on an open-length lead to win in 1:58.1. The Possess The Will colt is out of the Chocolatier mare Sweet Love, whose own dam is Amour Angus, a full sister to four champions, Conway Hall, Andover Hall, Angus Hall, and Emilie Cas El, the last-named the dam of Hambletonian winner Trixton. Fashion Possessed’s trainer, Jim Campbell, matched Ron Burke by sending out four successful babies – David Miller handled two of them, and he also recorded victories with two others.

The fastest trotting filly was the Explosive Matter – French Doll miss Spring In Paris, who was more than 17 lengths clear of her opposition in 2:00 for Gingras and trainer Steve LeBlanc. Among the male pacers, 1:55.4 miles were turned in by Milano Hanover (Western Ideal – Monte Carlo Madam) for Gingras/Burke, and Mangogh, another son of Western Ideal out of My Little Artist, who had Andrew McCarthy in the sulky for conditioner Bruce Saunders.

(PHHA / Harrah’s Philadelphia)