Solar charged to the lead past the quarter for driver Marcus Miller, then fronted his opposition the rest of the way to take the $12,800 featured trot on Thursday afternoon (Oct. 22) at Harrah’s Philadelphia in 1:55.4.
Big Nudge, who had gone out for the early lead before turning it over to Solar, then rode the pocket behind the winner until mounting a stretch charge, but that move came up a half length short.
Solar, a three-year-old Father Patrick gelding, notched his fifth score of the year and pushed his seasonal bankroll over $50,000 for trainer Erv Miller, who shares ownership with Sara Miller and John Koliopoulos.
The fastest winner in the tri-$11,200 supporting features was Rosalie Swan, who now has won three of her last four starts after enduring a first-over trip and reducing her mark to 1:54.4. Trainer Pat Lachance drove the three-year-old daughter of Sebastian K S for owner Helen Duer.
The fastest trotting mile of the card came from Amador, who reduced his record to 1:53.4. The four-year-old Yankee Glide gelding and driver Todd McCarthy pressed on to command in front of the stands and had more than enough to withstand Armagedon Seelster by 1-1/2 lengths for trainer/owner Joseph King.
In a maiden trotting event, the Cantab Hall gelding Duke Of Lindy, who went into the care of Greg White for today’s race, put up astounding fractions of :28, :56 and 1:24.1 and led by as much as 12 lengths for most of the middle part of the mile. While not able to sustain that rate, Duke Of Lindy held on under Simon Allard’s urging to defeat 1-10 favourite Ethan T Hanover by a half length in 1:55.1 for owner Jaypaul Hoover.
(PHHA/Harrah's Philadelphia)