The great rate of early-speed success in the opening days of the 2019 Harrah’s Philadelphia season continued in the $14,500 featured trot on Thursday (April 4), as the Lionhunter mare Black Mamba AS made every pole a winning one in a 1:54 mile.

Black Mamba AS, the 9-5 second choice that is a winner of $241,060 in purse earnings, worked to the front in a :27.1 opening quarter and then got a breather to the half in :57.1.

The 6-5 favourite, Zlatan, had to take up uncovered duties and commenced to grind raw against the pacesetter, who reached the three-quarters pole in 1:24.3. The pesky Zlatan would not go away through the lane, but Black Mamba AS had enough to hold off her foe by a length for trainer Anette Lorentzon and ACL Stuteri AB.

Many of the Harrah’s faithful held their breath when 2-5 favourite Wildfire Seelster sat in third in the $14,000 co-featured trot, but driver Simon Allard found a clear inside path in the stretch and rallied the sophomore filly by Explosive Matter to catch pacesetting Andovers Asset by a nose in 1:59.

(With files from PHHA / Harrah’s Philadelphia)