Sharp younger horses on an upward career trajectory were in the spotlight at Harrah’s Philadelphia on Thursday, Nov. 7. Only I Exist made a case as the most impressive of that group, winning for the 14th straight time in her first appearance outside of Maryland.
In one of the two $16,667 trots on the Philly card, the Yall Beneath Me three-year-old filly Only I Exist made the lead past the quarter for driver Russell Foster and held together to record her 14th straight win over her two years of racing while lowering her mark to 1:56.1. The queen of the state to Philly’s southwest, who made a break in her bow and hasn’t stopped winning since, did not have an easy task, though, as a rival came up on her to each side late, but she preserved a half-length margin over Wall Street Edge and Highly Motivated, who dead-heated for second. Only I Exist has now amassed $341,952 for trainer-owner Richard Hans of Googoo Gaagaa fame.
The lone $16,667 "non-winners of three" pace went to Dandy Ideal, who in his last start tied the Pocono track record for two-year-old pacing geldings with a 1:50.3 mile, and here went only a tick slower while winning well in hand. The American Ideal-OK Heavenly gelding was reserved in third by driver David Miller until late in the backstretch, then attacked the pacesetting Ishotthesheriff GB and paced away in the stretch easily. Dandy Ideal is a youngster to be watched for trainer Jenny Melander and Exceed Stables LLC.
The Stay Hungry three-year-old gelding Tyson Hanover made an impressive invasion of Philly while pacing to a lifetime best of 1:50.3 in a $18,750 "non-winners of five" class. Trainer-driver Rick Still sent the sophomore right to command early and set all the pace, with Tyson Hanover able to withstand a late push by favoured Cupid Shuffle to prevail by a neck for owners Midsize Construction Inc. Tyson Hanover started 2024 with nine straight wins before being beaten in his last two, but he rebounded spectacularly here.
The diagonally-gaited $18,750 feature had the favourites finish 1-2, as crowd choice Crown Monarch, a Father Patrick sophomore colt, brushed to the lead before the three-quarters and then easily held off National Love As from just behind him while stopping the timer in 1:54.3. Rikard Skoglund had the drive for trainer Per Engblom (one of his three winners on the day) and the ownership of Engblom Stable LLC, Amos Leon Lengacher and Tomas Andersson.
In the other trot co-feature, the Bar Hopping sophomore miss Bar Town moved up on the uncovered grind from shortly past the half and kept on coming, just catching pacesetting favourite Koriander Sisu S by a neck while lowering her mark to 1:56.2. Corey Callahan guided the winner, now successful in four of her last five starts, for trainer John Butenschoen and Bay Pond Racing Stable.
U.S. Hall Of Fame driver David Miller, like trainer Engblom, had three wins on the day, and he is now tied for third in the Philly win standings with Simon Allard at an even 100. The 1-2 horsemen, Tim Tetrick (141 wins, .369 UDR) and George Napolitano Jr. (136 wins, . 363 UDR), may be pressured in the latter battle by Miller, who has a lofty .358 batting average at the riverside oval.
A pair of $14,000 USD events for the best fast-class horses on each gait at Philly will headline Friday’s 12:25 p.m. card.
(with files from PHHA / Harrah's Philadelphia; photo of Only I Exist from a previous win)