The Trixton gelding Toccoa Falls, held at 21-1 despite a victory in his latest start, found room up the inside and thwarted a giant late burst by heavy favourite Stable Genius to win the $19,178 fast-class handicap on “Trottin’ Thursday” (June 20) at Harrah’s Philadelphia. 

Yanks Dugout took the field to the quarter in :27.4, got a breather while hitting the half in :57.4, then sped the tempo up to 1:26 by the three-quarters while no substantial outer flow developed. The pacesetter could not hold on to his advantage, and the two “live” horses in the stretch were driven by the McCarthy brothers – Andrew, who shot up the inside from third-in with Toccoa Falls, and Todd, who had to swing Stable Genius wide from way back. Toccoa Falls took advantage of the short route to post a neck decision over the onrushing chalk while raising his lifetime bankroll to $403,090 for the meet’s leading trainer, Per Engblom, and owner Ben Mondello.

Upsets were largely the order of the day at Philly until the last couple of races, and eight-time Harrah’s dashwinning driving champion George Napolitano Jr. contributed more than his share in a five-winner day. Though “George Nap” usually attracts a good deal of betting attention, in his Thursday quintet he had only one winning favourite, and three of his winners paid $24.40 or more.

Pacers take over the spotlight for the last two days of the Harrah’s Philly racing week, with a $13,000 USD handicap for distaffs topping the card Friday; there will also be two events for two-year-olds. On Sunday (June 22), the $15,000 USD fast-class feature sports a field of six with a 1:48.3 average lifetime mark in a well-matched grouping.

(PHHA / Harrah's Philadelphia)