After an epic last-quarter duel, the Always B Miki-Macharoundtheclock gelding Joemikiyoursofine got the better of favoured Christopher Dance N to capture the $22,535 Winners Over Pace on Sunday, Oct. 25 at Harrah’s Philadelphia.
Joemikiyoursofine, driven by George Napolitano Jr. for trainer Christopher Choate and owners Anthony Ruggeri and Richard Tosies, left hard and secured the early lead in :26.2, then went on to a :54.4 clocking at the half-mile. Christopher Dance N (Mark Herschberger) went his own third panel in :26.3 raw to move up to challenging position by the 1:22 three quarters, and there was very little difference between the two from mid-turn to the wire. At one point coming off the last curve, it looked like Christopher Dance N might have enjoyed a small lead, but Joemikiyoursofine proved to be a very tough customer and dug in to have a neck margin at the wire in 1:50.1. Cranbourne N (Trae Porter) finished third.
The big end of the purse ran Joemikiyoursofine's lifetime earnings to $503,099 as the six-year-old collected his 25th win from 108 career starts. He paid $5.20 to win.
The Scottish-bred five-year-old Tom Hill-Racezapan gelding Moneyhill Gb ($4.60) was successful in the $18,310 fast-class sub-featured conditioned pace, making every pole a winning one as he tied his mark of 1:51.1 with back fractions of :55.2 - :27.3. Johnathan Ahle was in the sulky for trainer Robert Cleary and owner Haughfield Racing as Moneyhill Gb was 2-1/2 lengths clear at the finish.
The top-billed event for developing horses was a $19,014 pace for males, won by another son of Always B Miki, the sophomore gelding Highland B Best, who equalled his lifetime best of 1:50.4. A pair of :27 back quarters enabled the pacesetter to dash clear by 4-1/2 lengths for Team Beyer — driver Troy and trainer Katie — and owner Highland Thoroughbred Farm. The gelding out of Highlandbeachbelle paid $3.20 to win.
Several doubles were recorded by drivers on the 14-race Sunday card: by Johnathan Ahle, Mark Herschberger, George Napolitano Jr. and Art Stafford Jr. Another statistical tale was played out at the top of the seasonal standings: Simon Allard guided his 114th winner of the meet, putting him ahead of Tim Tetrick by one, while on the training side Joe Bongiorno and Dean Eckley entered the day tied for the lead at 41 and ended the afternoon even at 42 after having each sent out a winner.
Thursday’s racing at Harrah’s Philadelphia begins the Liberty Bell stakes series for Pennsylvania-sired two- and three-year-olds, with freshman males going in one division per gait: the pacers for $62,200 USD and the trotters for $45,000 USD. The day afterward, Philly will have its first post at 2 p.m. as the Breeders Cup championships for runners has the first of its two-day extravaganza.
(PHHA/Harrah's Philadelphia; photo of Joemikiyoursofine winning on May 2)