Rich And Miserable never looked back in winning the $20,000 Open Handicap Trot, the feature as Harrah’s Philadelphia opened its 2023 harness racing season on Sunday afternoon (April 2).

David Miller put Rich And Miserable, an Explosive Matter gelding and now a winner of $746,274 for Buter Farm Inc. and Lynette Buter, right on the lead and posted splits of :27.3, :56.3 and 1:24.3. Lovedbythemasses, favoured in his seasonal debut, got an early spot and then moved uncovered to challenge the winner, but he couldn’t sustain his bid and was no closer than 1-3/4 lengths behind the Todd Buter trainee at the end of the 1:53.1 mile.

Driver Miller came right back in the $15,300 co-featured trot with the favoured Andover Hall mare Dreamonhigh, who rode the two-hole behind second choice Betterinpinehurst, then overhauled that one late to stop the timer in 1:55, 1-1/4 lengths to the good. Last year’s winningest trainer at Philly, Per Engblom, conditions the winner of $392,577 for Zippett Racing Stable and Amos Lengacher.

Miller finished out the card with four victories, one behind his fellow Hall Of Famer and 2022’s leading Philly driver Tim Tetrick. Three of Tetrick’s successes were sent out by the Jeff Cullipher stable and were owned by Pollack Racing LLC.

Harrah’s Philly will start its 2023 schedule on a schedule of Thursdays and Fridays at 12:25 p.m. (EDT) and Sundays at 12:40 p.m.; there will be an immediate deviation this coming week as the track will be dark for live racing this Sunday, April 9, Easter Sunday.

(PHHA / Harrah's Philadelphia)