The Ontario-owned Donato Hanover mare Chake posted a major upset in the $17,808 featured fast-class trot on Friday afternoon, May 3 at Harrah’s Philadelphia, upending heavy favourite Benjamin Hanover in 1:52.4.

It may be more fair to say Benjamin Hanover upended himself, as the chalk, coming off a 1:51.2 divisional track record for four-year-old trotting geldings in his last start, made a break right after the start and was no better than sixth early. Chake left sharply to take over on the first turn in the :27.2 initial quarter. In trying to repair his mistake, Benjamin Hanover went his own second quarter in :27.2, taking the top before the :56.2 half, with Chake yielding for the pocket.

Benjamin Hanover led at the 1:24.1 three-quarters pole and around the far turn, but the winning mare came out of the hole for driver Simon Allard and set her sights on the leader. Chake went by the chalk in the late steps to score a three-quarter length decision while reducing her mark for trainer Per Engblom, who had the only training double of the day, and owner Daniel Sarafian of Unionville, Ont.

The supporting features were a pair of $16,438 contests, one on each gait. The trotters were headed by Greenspan, a sophomore Greenshoe gelding coming off third and fifth-place finishes in the Breeders Crown eliminations and final who made his 2024 debut a winning one while taking a mark of 1:55.2. Longfellow S made a mid-race move to the lead after fractions of :28.4 and :58 and reached the three-quarters in 1:27, but by then, he had the winner coming at him raw, and identical :28.1 back quarters were enough for Greenspan to go by the leader by a half-length for driver Johnathan Ahle, U.S. Hall Of Fame trainer Jim Campbell and Runthetable Stables.

The pacers were mastered by the Ontario-bred Downbytheseaside gelding Twin B Seamonster, who has a seasonal record of two wins and one second in three starts after stopping the timer in 1:51.3, a lifetime best. Patrick Ryder headed down the road in :26.3, :55, 1:23, with the pacer trained by his father Chris, and Twin B Seamonster was able to parry the late thrust of pocket-sitting Legal Attack by three-quarters of a length for owner Anthony Timmins. 

The fastest mile of the day came in an unlikely spot, the first race, and from an unlikely group, conditioned claimers. But it also came from the hottest trainer around, Izzy Estrada, as the Ontario-bred Sunshine Beach gelding Twin B Risenshine sped around the track on the front end to win in a career best 1:49.4, just a tick off the local seasonal standard, and kept him unbeaten in three starts since being acquired by the winning trainer’s Estrada Racing LLC.

Twin B Risenshine was driven by Andy Miller, who shared the day’s sulky honours with Corey Callahan, each driver visiting Victory Lane three times.

Harrah’s Philadelphia will have a special Kentucky Derby Day live card starting at noon on Saturday and then the racing week will be capped by a 12:40 p.m. program on Sunday. Free Philly programs will be available at phha.org.

(With files from PHHA / Harrah’s Philadelphia)