Le mastodonte canadien-français, “the French-Canadian juggernaut,” came blasting through Harrah’s Philadelphia on Sunday afternoon, Nov. 10), with the Captaintreacherous sophomore colt Calicojack Hanover winning the $18,750 handicap pacing feature in 1:51.4 for driver Daniel Dube, trainer Luc Blais and Determination.
Entering an overnight after finishing fourth behind Mirage Hanover, Nijinsky and Captain Albano in the Breeders Crown, Calicojack Hanover was bet down as the heavy favourite. Dube drove Calicojack Hanover as such, moving him to the lead past a :26.4 quarter and getting a breather to the half in :56.2. From there, the pacer sped home in :55.2 and :27.1 to leave his opposition well behind him, with Dube asking little of the three-year-old late.
An $15,278 co-feature went to Contact Zone, a son of Bettors Delight who paced his own last half in :55.1 to succeed in 1:52.2 for trainer Izzy Estrada and Estrada Racing LLC. David Miller worked out a two-hole journey then moved Contact Zone into the inside passing zone, where he could produce a bit more pace then the first-over favourite, Braeview Bondi A, winning by a neck.
And then there were the longshots.
Gatsby paid $56 for a deuce in the second race and Ginger Tree Liz paid $51 in the sixth as trainer Chris Temming tied for the meet lead with Joe Eisenhower Sr. with his second “bomber” of the season.
But they were the opening acts for the Badlands Hanover colt Boris Badenov, who closed strongly to catch Moose and Squirrel, er, Steam Play and Captain Fear and break his maiden while returning $201, biggest win payoff of the local year. Driver Jack Pelling now has had three of the last five “bombers” at Philly and is tied at three with Troy Beyer for the meet lead in $50+ horses. Nov. 10 joined Oct. 13 as a “triple longshot day” at the riverside oval.
Gatsby's win was in one of the two races for the American Harness Drivers Club with Steven Reisenweaver in the bike. The other division went to 7-1 shot Meet The Creeper and Bruno Chiodo.
David Miller topped all horsemen with three winners on Sunday, giving him eight for the week at Philly.
Harrah’s Philly will be racing this week and next on Thursday and Friday at 12:25 p.m. and Sunday at 12:40 p.m.
(With files from PHHA / Harrah's Philadelphia)