In Todd McCarthy’s first 2026 action at Harrah's Philadelphia this past Sunday, he failed to hit the board in six drives. But on the track’s next card on “Trottin’ Thursday,” April 16, the transplanted Australian made up for lost time as he visited the winner's circle on seven occasions, including the featured $22,222 Winners Over Trot.

In the top event, McCarthy got away in the pocket with the Alarm Detector-Im A Munchie Girl gelding Indy Be Quick, ducked him inside for the drive, and the five-year-old just prevailed over fellow Dover shipper Arrowhead Hanover (Tony Morgan) while taking a new mark of 1:53. Arrowhead Hanover went a giant mile himself uncovered, but came up a nose shy on the money. Sapphirerainstar (Simon Allard) was third. Team Neilsen – trainer Dawn Erin and owner David – saw their trotter raise his lifetime bankroll to $350,010 with his 16th win in 52 starts. The win price was $6.80.

McCarthy and Southwind Alamo ($3.20) captured the $18,750 sub-featured conditioned trot convincingly, despite the three-year-old Tactical Landing-Amber Ella colt having to be the first-up in his seasonal debut. But the promising sophomore handled the hard journey with aplomb, lowering his speed badge to 1:53.3 for trainer Ron Coyne Jr. and the partnership of Coyne & Pachuta Stable, Blair Corbeil, Richard Carney and Mike McAllister. He was 2-1/2 lengths the best over Seismic Step (Niko Karna), with Elan Hanover (Tim Tetrick) third. 

McCarthy also won with Fineline Hanover ($2.10), Modigliani S ($9), Napalm ($2.10), Trillion Times ($2.20) and Lincoln La Moose N ($9) on the 14-race program. He raised his meet UDRS up 433 points with the seven-bagger, along with a second and two thirds. He went from tied for last to second in the sulky standings, with leader Tim Tetrick, trying for his sixth straight Philly crown, doubling on the day to add to his seven wins on the first two cards. The septet also set a 2026 high for Eastern Pennsylvania harness racing, as Brett Beckwith and Tyler Buter have both posted six-win days at Pocono.

There were two trainers on the card with two wins, Ron Coyne Jr. and Per Engblom, and they are the leading trainers at the two Keystone eastside tracks. Coyne tops all other conditioners with three in the three days of racing here, and Engblom leads the standings at Pocono. No extra points for guessing who drove all four of their winners.

Friday’s 12:25 p.m. card at Philly will feature a pair of $12,000 USD contests for developing horses and an $11,500 USD fast-class handicap pace for fillies and mares, which will start the card.

(PHHA/Harrah's Philadelphia; photo of Todd McCarthy at Woodbine Mohawk Park in 2022)