The trotter Freshette Hanover and the pacer Tango Dancer N were victorious in the $16,000 feature races at Harrah’s Philadelphia on Friday, the next-to-last day of the 2019 meeting.
First up was the Andover Hall sophomore trotting filly Freshette Hanover, who overcame some recent camera shyness (three straight seconds) with an authoritative 3-¾ lengths victory, reducing her mark by 4-2/5 seconds in a 1:55.2 victory. David Miller sent the three-year-old first-over and cleared to the lead before the three-quarters, finishing out strongly for trainer Christopher Freck and owner Suzie Kerwood.
In the pacing feature, Tango Dancer N was limbed to the quarter, then maintained control of the throttle from there, holding off pocketsitter Windsong Parisian by 1-1/2 lengths in 1:53.2, last quarter :27.4. The daughter of A Rocknroll Dance, favoured by $4 in the win pool over third-place finisher Betcha Baby, was driven by Dexter Dunn for trainer/owner Kelvin “Red” Harrison.
In a $14,500 distaff pace, Islay N left for position, was shuffled during some early moves to the lead and had to attack first-over, but the Stonebridge Regal mare was able to wear down favoured Lincolns Girl N to post a three-quarter length decision in 1:51.3, equaling her North American best. George Napolitano Jr. drove the winner of $216,332 for owner/trainer Gilbert Garcia-Owen, who is winning his first Philly seasonal training title this year.
The 2019 season at Harrah’s Philadelphia comes to a close this Sunday, with the first of twelve races set to begin at 2:05 p.m.
(PHHA / Harrah's Philadelphia)