Favoured Fashion Creditor sat well-placed off a hot early pace, made his move on the far turn, then drew off to a 4-1/4 length victory in 1:54.1 in the $18,000 feature on ‘Trottin’ Thursday’ at Harrah’s Philadelphia.
Sylvesteramerica IT, Cash For Gold, and Cruising In Style were three-across the track in a :27.3 first quarter, and second choice Cruising In Style did not clear to the lead until almost the 3/8, and he passed the half in a taxing :55.4, with Rubber Duck first-over and Fashion Creditor behind him.
Rubber Duck tucked into an open pocket later down the backstretch, with Fashion Creditor going on uncovered to challenge the pacesetter by the 1:24.3 three-quarters and then go by him around the turn. Rubber Duck, who had backed out to follow the winner on the turn and who loomed boldly nearing head-stretch, made a break at that point, and Fashion Creditor was home free from there, with Cruising In Style lasting for second over a shuffled-then-closing Sylvesteramerica IT.
Pat Berry handled the veteran Credit Winner gelding for trainer Tom Fanning and owner Joseph Smith. The seven-year-old pushed his lifetime earnings to $657,102.
In a $14,500 co-featured trot, the Credit Winner gelding Ooh Rah was moved by driver Art Stafford, Jr. from fourth off the first turn to the lead in front of the grandstand, then trotted on nicely to record a 1:54 victory.
The winner of $194,395, owned by trainer Kathleen La Montagne in partnership with Donald La Montagne, was not threatened in the second half of the mile and won by 2-1/4 lengths over pocket-sitter Filled Donut.
The winning drivers in the featured races, Pat Berry and Art Stafford, Jr., also led the driving colony for the day with three victories each.
(PHHA / Harrah’s Philadelphia)