The Explosive Matter gelding Major Impact certainly did have a major impact on the racing Thursday afternoon (Dec. 6) at Harrah’s Philadelphia, closing strongly to rally past favourite Clive Bigsby in the $17,000 featured trot and return $106.80 to win.
Driver Marcus Miller had Major Impact on the back of the favourite and advanced behind his cover, then swung wide behind him as he made a three-move move to the lead at head-stretch. Major Impact proved the quickest late to win by a neck over Clive Bigsby in 1:56, tallying for trainer Robert Baggitt Jr. and Christine Baggitt.
In the $14,500 co-featured trot, Magic Night and driver Yannick Gingras rallied up the inside and defeated Yuge by a neck in 1:55.4. The victorious Kadabra gelding gapped in the pocket behind favoured pacesetter Crazshana much of the last half, but found better strides in the lane and beat out the closing Yuge, with Crazshana third.
Burke Racing Stable LLC and Weaver Bruscemi LLC co-own the winner with J&T Silva Stables; driver Gingras and trainer Ron Burke teamed for their third success of the afternoon, which included the second straight win of the impressive A Rocknroll Dance sophomore pacing filly Reclamation, now two-for-two since arriving from Ireland via Wales.
(with files from PHHA/Harrah's Philadelphia)