As is often the case at Harrah’s Philadelphia, the front end was the place to be for the winners of the two featured trots during the track’s Thursday afternoon (Oct. 28) program, which was contested over a 'sloppy' surface which was assessed as two seconds slow.
Donato Hanover colt Big Nudge scratched into the $12,800 top purse event from the also-eligible list and started from the dreaded Post 8. He then had his load lightened considerably when there were three more scratches from the programmed starters. David Miller promptly sent Big Nudge to the top in the short field, and the pair had no trouble controlling the throttle. The duo came home in :28.4 to post a 1:57.1 victory by one and three quarter lengths over Lucy Mae Hanover. Jake Leamon conditions the three-year-old for Charles Elliott, A And B Stable, and Hutt Racing Stable.
In a $11,600 trot for the faster-class seasoned performers, Muscle Mass gelding Cavill Hanover also went right to the engine and held off a determined first-over bid by Yankees Beast to win by a neck in 1:55.3 off of a :28.3 final quarter. Marcus Miller drove the winner of $227,480 for trainer Mark Harder and Thestable Cavill Hanover.
Tim Tetrick, who won five Breeders Crown elimination races last weekend, and David Miller, who captured four, will head back to Hoosier Park for this weekend’s championship races after having each posted a driving triple on Philly's Thursday card.
(PHHA / Harrah’s Philadelphia)