A pair of $12,600 trotting events for horses looking to work their way up the class ladder were in the featured slots at Harrah’s Philadelphia on Thursday afternoon (Sept. 8).

The Father Patrick mare Thesunrisesagain had been showing signs of promise in recent starts, but few expected her to turn in a 1:55 victory that bettered her lifetime mark. Driver Corey Callahan gave her the “go” word from the start, and she rattled off splits of :27.3, :57.1 and 1:24.4 while opening an ever-increasing lead through the last half. She finally crossed the wire eight lengths ahead of Mojave Hanover. Jonas Czernyson conditions the improving distaff for Consus Racing Stable Inc.

In the other feature trot, Cocktail Promise got to set a very soft pace of :29, :59.2 and 1:29.4, but right behind sat the Chapter Seven sophomore colt Distance Learning. The latter horse went by the pacesetter by half a length to take a new mark of 1:58.3, making him two for two with trotting hopples. The Philly meet’s winningest horsemen, driver Tim Tetrick and trainer Per Engblom, combined on the victory for JJ Racing Stable Inc.

Tetrick came back to take the $11,200 fast-class trot with Bank Box Treasure by the slimmest of margins over Epos Ostervang DK in 1:55.1 for his second straight win. The victorious Break The Bank K gelding got around Epos Ostervang DK to the :27.3 quarter, went middle fractions of :57.2 and 1:25.2 while seeing the first-over foe off. He then turned his attention inside to the potential pocket rocket, finding gameness to record the photo victory. Gilbert Garcia-Owen trains the winner for owner Gilbert Garcia-Herrera.

“Trottin’ Thursday” was also another “yellow/green/white” day for feature race winners and overall at Harrah’s Philly, as Tim Tetrick picked up four victories and Corey Callahan paraded back first three times. In fact, those colors were worn by the drivers of the 1-2-3 finishers of the final race, as Troy Beyer (who had two wins today, as did Tyler Miller) finished ahead of Callahan and Tetrick with the wire-to-wire pacing winner Voyager in 1:52.

This was the first day of the fall basic schedule at Harrah’s Philadelphia, which will feature racing on Thursdays and Fridays at 12:25 p.m. (EDT) and Sundays at 12:40 p.m. Friday’s (Sept. 9) card will have a carryover of $3320.33 into the third-race Super Hi-5 wager.

(PHHA / Harrah's Philadelphia)