Mad Max Hanover, a 3-5 favourite who gave those assembled at Harrah’s Philadelphia on Sunday, June 15 virtually a minute’s worth of anxiety as he could not stay with cover, finally surged in the final steps to catch pacesetting Lunar by a nose and win the $17,568 fast-class conditioned pacing feature in 1:50.3.

The victorious Always B Miki-Mayhem Seelster gelding, coming off a parked-the-mile victory at The Meadowlands, got away fifth for Dave Miller as Lunar (Jack Pelling) dashed right to the front in a :26.1 opener, with Mad Max Hanover moving out nearing the :55 half and soon catching cover behind Primary Colors (Tim Tetrick). But as the pacesetter and first-over horse waged war past a 1:22.3 three-quarters and into the stretch, “Mad Max” was still gapping, and his prospects did not look bright. The chalk raced a bit behind as the top two fought on, then found a burst in the last 50 yards and was able to nip Lunar by the smallest possible margin, with Primary Colors third, only a neck off taking it all. 

Mad Max Hanover boosted his career earnings to $924,290 with the narrow victory for trainer Jake Leamon and owner Marvin Rounick. The six-year-old has won 20 of 81 lifetime appearances and six in 15 tries this year.

A $14,865 fast-class sub-feature was also taken by an Always B Miki gelding, Its Saturday Night, who was allowed to dawdle on the lead to the half in :57, then sprinted home in :54 in a 1:51 success story. Mark Herschberger handled the four-year-old winner, out of Night Music, for trainer Nifty Norman and Dune Road Stables. Belmont Royale N (Pat Lachance), another Norman trainee, was second by a length over Dynamite Dylan (Andy Miller).

There were two $16,216 events for developing horses, one on each gait. The assembled pacing males in this class were fronted by another Norman trainee, Always B Gibby, yet another altered son of Always B Miki (out of Mcgibson Beach). Jack Pelling put the four-year-old on the lead, benefitted from some confusion past the half and the gelding dashed home in back-to-back :27.4 panels to cross the wire first in 1:53.1 for LSC Stables. Captain Magestic (Andy Miller) was a length back in second with Dreamlandcappuccino (Herschberger) completing the ticket.

In the trot, the Gimpanzee-Miss Trixton filly Misspanzee was able to race in third much of the mile for Tim Tetrick, then moved out and got the better of pylon-shooting Esme (Niko Karna) by a neck in 1:55.2. Last Of Braggert (Andy Miller) was third. The three-year-old Misspanzee has now won her last three starts for trainer Noel Daley and owner Thaddeus Wier.

In the $14,865 top-level claiming handicap pace, Wattastory was moved from fourth off the first turn by Tetrick but met dogged resistance from pacesetting Hervey Hanover (George Napolitano Jr.) from early in the stretch the first time to just past mid-backstretch. Finally clearing to the lead, the five-year-old Tellitlikeitis-Wattaqueen gelding Wattastory opened a big lead and went on to win by 2-1/2 lengths in 1:51.4 for trainer Hunter Oakes and owner Jeffrey Renzi. Hervey Hanover took the place spot ahead of R N B Band (Jonathan Ahle).

Doubles on the card were notched by drivers David Miller, Pelling and Tetrick, and by trainers Leamon and Norman.

In a pair of $10,135 American Harness Drivers Club races, Yogi Sheridan drove his trainee Shore Of Himself, owned by Beverly Schiffman, to a 1:53.2 blowout win while Geovany Hernandez scored with his own pacer Phelgon in 1:55. 

Racing resumes at Philly on “Trottin’ Thursday,” June 19, with diamond-gaited features of all types, including the betting debut of the two-year-olds. There will also be a carryover into the fifth race Pick 5 pool. 

(With files from PHHA/Harrah’s Philadelphia & AHDC; photo of Mad Max Hanover from a previous win at The Meadowlands)