Driver Andy McCarthy swept all three divisions of the $96,801 Hardie Hanover as Harrah's Philadelphia continued its slate of John Simpson Memorial events on Wednesday afternoon (Oct. 21).
Marloe Hanover's 1:50.4 mile was the fastest across all three divisions of the Hardie Hanover. The Captaintreacherous filly made the top at the quarter and powered home in :27.2 to win by a widening 5-3/4 lengths. Nifty Norman conditions the winner of $413,273 for the Let It Ride Stables.
Going Gone Hanover gave Captaintreacherous another siring credit in the stakes event, pushing her career bankroll over six figures for trainer Brett Bittle and Yankeeland Partners LLP with a narrow 1:51.3 score over Shouldabeenatd.
The other division saw Precious Alexis notch a third straight victory, taking a new mark of 1:51.4 and winning by 2-1/2 lengths. Ed Gannon Jr. trains the daughter of Art Major for the Zippett Racing Stable.
Two divisions of the $86,600 Elma, the companion Simpson stakes for sophomore trotting fillies, were also contested.
In the first section, the Donato Hanover filly Dip Me Hanover recorded a 1:53 victory. No Mas Drama charged up the backstretch in pursuit of the lead, but pacesetting Hannah denied her the crossover. After No Mas Drama faded and subsequently broke stride, Dip Me Hanover came out of the pocket and beat Hannah by 1-3/4 lengths, raising her earnings to $377,934 for trainer Linda Toscano and the Camelot Stable Inc., Dreamville Stable and R-And-I Farms LLC.
The $500,000 yearling Fifty Cent Piece brought her “A” game in the other split, racing first-over yet still striding away to a 2-1/2 length triumph in 1:53.4. Mattias Melander guided the daughter of Muscle Hill to victory for trainer Marcus Melander and the S R F Stable.
McCarthy and George Napolitano Jr. notched three driving wins apiece on the afternoon. Ron Burke and Gilbert Garcia-Owen, the top two trainers in the Harrah's Philadelphia standings, both doubled.
(with files from PHHA/Harrah's Philadelphia)