Three-year-old trotters Chipper Dale and Only I Exist continued their winning ways in a pair of $16,667 conditioned races on another “Trottin’ Thursday” program at Harrah’s Philadelphia.
The Shake It Off Lindy sophomore gelding Chipper Dale made his debut for owners Evans Nation, Jeff Fought Racing and Brian Carsey memorable in winning by 6-3/4 lengths in 1:55.1, lowering his record five full seconds. David Miller moved the new Per Engblom trainee to the lead in front of the grandstand and the rest laboured to get a minor portion behind the winner of six straight. Chipper Dale has won 11 of 14 starts this year and scored six of eight times at two while the dominant force in the Maine program. His earnings are now just shy of $275,000.
The Yall Beneath Me three-year-old filly Only I Exist made a break in her career bow and after that has won 15 straight races -- six last season and this year nine more, including two at Philly since establishing her dominance in Maryland. Russell Foster raced her off the pace in this start and the winner of more than $350,000 proved equal to the challenge in 1:57 for trainer/owner Richard Hans of Googoo Gaagaa fame.
The day's top class was an $18,750 trot won by G Load, who raced in the two-hole then had enough stretch force to overhaul pacesetting Tequini Hanover. Justin Huckabone put the Nuncio gelding on the early lead, then yielded to the quarter-moving Tequini Hanover on a brisk day in southeast Pennsylvania. There the winner waited until headstretch, when G Load moved outside and gradually grinded past the leader to win in a half-length tally in 1:56.2. Driver Huckabone also trains the winner for owner Mathew Dugan.
Doublers on the driving side were Justin Huckabone, George Napolitano Jr. (reducing Tim Tetrick’s meet lead to 146-141), Jack Pelling and Rikard Skoglund. Conditioners Scott Di Domenico and Per Engblom also had a pair of wins.
Fast-class horses of all varieties will be featured on Friday’s program at Harrah’s Philadelphia, with first post at 12:25 p.m. Free Philly program pages will be available at phha.org.
(With files from PHHA / Harrah’s Philadelphia; Photo of Only I Exist from a previous win)