Jive Dancing A won her third straight race and her second straight in the $17,000 fillies and mares high-level pace on Friday afternoon at Harrah’s Philadelphia, lowering her lifetime mile mark to 1:51.4 despite temperatures in the lower 50s.
The victorious daughter of Rock N Roll Heaven was the innermost of three competitors for the early lead, yielding the top to favoured Sweet Lucy Lou near the :27.4 quarter. Sweet Lucy Lou, who had been two-wide in the first turn, then gave way to Odds On St Lucie, who was limbed three-deep most of the quarter then two-wide further before getting the top. Odds On St Lucie was off to the races, hitting the half in :55.2 and leaving the chalk gapping in the two-hole, while Jive Dancing A started a first-over move.
Jive Dancing A was gaining on Odds On St Lucie by the 1:22.3 three-quarters and went to the front shortly after turning for home. By that point Sweet Lucy Lou had found her best strides, but her inside bid came up a head shy. George Napolitano Jr., who added five wins Friday to the four he had here Thursday, handled the winner. Jive Dancing A lost her first 16 starts Down Under but is now 16-for-31 in her last two campaigns for trainer Michael Hall and Blindswitch Racing Stable.
Also extending a win streak was the Somebeachsomewhere sophomore filly Abuelita Hanover, who won wire-to-wire in 1:52.4 for her second straight score in a $16,000 co-feature for distaff pacers. Pat Berry never looked back once making the lead at the quarter, winning by 5-¼ lengths over 60-1 shot Dont Forget for trainer Nick Surick and the partnership of Tonianne Fuoco, Michael Casalino Jr., J L Benson Stables Inc., and J Craparotta and P Berry Racing LLC.
The $16,000 trotting section of the co-feature went to the Muscle Hill sophomore gelding Muscle Star. He didn’t have the easiest of trips -- an early tuck followed by a first-over grind forward -- but once on top Muscle Star left the field well behind him, winning in 1:57.1. Tony Morgan drove the improving three-year-old for trainer Lucas Wallin and Mazza Racing Stables LLC.
The Captaintreacherous sophomore miss Philly Hanover, fresh from an appearance in the Breeders Crown final, defeated older stock in the $14,500 fast-class distaff pace. Moving to the top in front of the stands, she won handily in 1:50.3. Dexter Dunn sat in the sulky behind the winner of $297,979 for trainer Ron Coyne and the ownership of Blair Corbeil and Ron Coyne Stables Inc.
(PHHA / Harrah's Philadelphia)