Trotters In Spotlight In Philly
Two sons of superstar Muscle Hill, Southwind Sylvestr and Cricket Fashion, were successful in the $14,400 trotting co-features on Thursday afternoon.
The sophomore colt Cricket Fashion reduced his mark to 1:54.2 in the faster cut, sitting third-inside and then starting the outside tier late on the backstretch, going up to pacesetter Magic Cape and beating him by two lengths. Tim Tetrick drove the Jim Campbell trainee for Fashion Farms LLC, living up to the backing that sent him off as the favourite.
In contrast, the gelding Southwind Sylvestr had been dismissed at 15-1 odds after some recent breaking issues, but his behaviour was perfect as he reduced his mark to 1:55.3. Marcus Miller followed the cover of AP Hall Of Trix, who re-tucked in the pocket behind pacesetting Shikansen on the turn, and in the three-way drive Southwind Sylvestr rallied for a neck victory over AP Hall Of Trix, who in turn beat out Shikansen by a neck for second. Joe Hundertpfund, Jr. trains the winner for owners William Sartin and Richard Ashley.
In the $13,000 trotting feature for fast-class horses, the Break The Bank K gelding Double Account blazed to the lead in :26.3, then yielded to Globetrotting and sat behind that one at a :55.2 half and a 1:24.2 three-quarters; at the latter station the pacesetter was joined by first-over favoured Swansea. When the uncovered horse began to get the advantage mid-turn, Andy Miller (top driver on the day with three victories) slipped Double Account outside behind the chalk, steered him wide, and caught him by 1-3/4 lengths in 1:53 for trainer Jeff Cullipher, co-owner with Pollack Racing LLC.
A wide assortment of featured events will be raced on the Friday card at Philly: a $12,600 trot for younger developing types, an $11,700 trot for two-year-old fillies, and an $11,200 pace for fast-class distaffs. Post time is 12:25 p.m.
(PHHA / Harrah’s Philadelphia)