The two featured races at Harrah’s Philadelphia on ‘Trottin’ Thursday’ (Nov. 7) were both hard-fought affairs, as both headliners saw the winner finish less than two lengths from the fifth-place finisher.
In the $18,000 top-level event, Crazed gelding Izoh ignored both a 23-1 dismissal by the crowd and a gruelling first-over trip to catch the favoured Goes Down Smooth by a nose in 1:55.1. There was a half-length between Goes Down Smooth and third-place Ooh Rah, who in turn captured third by a half-length over Sumatra (Armagedon Seelster finished another neck back in fifth). Izoh has now recorded two wins and three seconds in his last five starts, despite having steadily risen in class. Izoh triumphed for trainer Frank Ingrassia and driver Jackie Ingrassia, who is a co-owner with Arden Homestead Stable, Donna Franchetti, and Thomas Doran.
The $14,500 co-feature saw Muscle Mass gelding Cruising In Style come up the inside to ‘outstep’ the first-over favourite, Crossfit, by three quarters of a length in 1:55.4. Fashion Creditor finished a half-length behind his aforementioned foes. Hill Of A Horse finished only a head behind the show horse and a half-length ahead of Sylvesteramericait. Cruising In Style pushed his earnings over the quarter-million dollar mark on Thursday. The Andrew Harris trainee is owned by Thestable Cruising Group.
Cruising In Style was driven by George Napolitano Jr., who recorded four wins on the Thursday card (Marcus Miller was next in line with three sulky successes).
(With files from Harrah’s Philadelphia)