On a cold Wednesday (Dec. 5) at Harrah's Philadelphia where the track condition went from “fast” to “good” to “sloppy” during a dusting of snow, a day when speed did not hold up very well, Mach Three gelding Internet Hanover was the star of the day, going wire-to-wire in 1:53.1 to win one of three co-featured $16,000 contests.
Tim Tetrick guided the impressive sophomore to the lead past a :27.4 quarter, got a breather to the half in :58, then put up a :27.4 third quarter and a fourth quarter of :27.3 – only one of two closing splits on the day faster than :29. Internet Hanover won by 5-1/4 lengths as the heavy favourite as he captured his third straight for trainer Scott DiDomenico and owners Triple D Stables Inc., Daniel Kiwak and Jay Spector.
In the other pacing co-feature, when the track was still rated “good,” the Yankee Skyscaper gelding Fox Valley Hijinx and trainer-driver Kyle Husted worked out a winning journey, just edging Lisburn by a nose in a lifetime best of 1:53.2. Lisburn made the lead by a :27.2 quarter, then yielded to follow heavy favourite Aleppo Hanover through middle splits of :56.2 and 1:24.1, with the eventual winner sitting just behind them. Both horses behind the front-stepper moved out before the three-quarters, with Lisburn putting away the speed but then just missing against the late charge of Fox Valley Hijinx, who is owned by David Brigham.
The trotting co-feature produced no fewer than seven lead changes, with IMF the only horse to have the lead twice, including the most important point of command: at the wire in a 1:57.4 mile. IMF made the lead in front of the stands the first time, yielded, was lucky to escape a blind switch at the three-quarters, then got a clear path and out-finished his opposition by 2-1/4 lengths. Yannick Gingras guided the Chapter Seven sophomore filly for trainer Ed Gannon Jr.
Gannon and Gingras share ownership of the winner with Frank Canzone and Ronald Sabatini.
(PHHA/Harrah's Philadelphia)