Tim Tetrick, all but mathematically assured of his seventh Harrah’s dash driving title, reported home first on five occasions during the Friday (Dec. 17) card of harness racing at Harrah's Philadelphia.
Three divisions of the $14,400 “nw 5 races” class went postward during the Friday afternoon card as the top class for the day, with Tetrick shut out in those events while successful in a handful of others. His five wins bring his local total to 246 victories, well ahead of George Napolitano Jr.'s 176.
Two of the $14,400 dashes were for male pacers. The faster went to the Somebeachsomewhere gelding Caviart Eden, claimed for $25,000 two starts ago, a winner against that company last time, and then, switching over to the conditioned ranks here, going down the road from the rail to post a lifetime best of 1:51.4.
Troy Beyer took early control from the pole, put everybody in behind, then sprinted home in :54.4 - :27.1 to drew clear of a good group, 2-3/4 lengths ahead of Moonlight Shadow, who was another two lengths ahead of favoured His Beats Hanover. Trainer Darren Taneyhill and owner Eric Prevost saw their horse win his way out of this class with the victory, but their recent acquisition may not be out of place even against better foes.
In the other pace, Candys Image Rocks used the rail to secure a pocket trip behind Mickeys Spirit, then just caught that one late to notch a neck victory in a career best 1:52.3. The Rockin Image gelding won for driver Simon Allard, trainer Les Givens, and the partnership of Legacy Racing Of DE Inc. and Nanticoke Racing Inc.
In the one co-feature programmed for trotters, the Andover Hall gelding Chocos Choice used his familiar closing tactics to record his fourth win from his last seven starts, this one in 1:58 to equal his lifetime best. The six-time winner in but 15 lifetime starts was rallied strongly by driver Troy Beyer to defeat Love This Bar by a length for trainer Jim Groff and owner Bernard O’Brien.
Rockapelo, who has raced in every month but May during 2021 and earned $323,780, is still going strong here in mid-December, and has been tabbed as the 5-2 early favourite for Sunday’s $16,200 featured pace at the southeast Pennsylvania oval. Program pages for Sunday’s 12:40 card will be available on the PHHA website.
(PHHA / Harrah's Philadelphia)