A trio of $16,000 events for the younger set were featured on a blustery Wednesday afternoon (Nov. 28) at Harrah’s Philadelphia, where a one-second allowance was given due to the weather.
The featured trot went to the Muscle Mass sophomore gelding Armagedon Seelster, who took a new mark of 1:56 despite the inhospitable conditions. Pat Berry sent the three-year-old right to the top and then yielded to sit behind the mare Zette Minx through fractions of :28.2, :58.3 and 1:26.3. No serious outer tier action developed, so Berry was able to swing Armagedon Seelster to the outside nearing head-stretch, and he out-trotted Zette Minx to the wire by 1-1/2 lengths for trainer Ron Coyne Jr. and owners Ron Coyne Stables Inc., Blair Corbeil and Mike McAllister.
In the first of the two pacing headliners, the Richess Hanover gelding Sullivan advanced uncovered with a :27 third quarter to grab an early backstretch lead he would never relinquish, withstanding a late rally from a shuffled Fox Valley Hijinx by 1-1/2 lengths in 1:55. Tony Morgan drove the promising winner for trainer Virgil Addison and Lady Mardot Racing LLC.
In the second, Mach Three sophomore gelding Gold Rush was a powerful 1:53.4 winner, as he swept off cover and paced his own last quarter in :28 into a stiff wind to defeat California Cruisin by 2-1/4 lengths. Brett Miller drove for trainer Paul Stafford and owner Thomas Ceraso Jr.
(with files from Harrah's Philadelphia)