Not even a post eight handicap could stop Sevruga from winning Thursday’s $30,000 top trot at Harrah’s Philadelphia, though the gelding did catch a big break when the post time favourite made an early miscue.
Summer Indian, who was sent off at odds of 7-5, rolled into a break as the field moved into the first turn, but that didn’t bother Sevruga one iota. Andy Miller hustled the five-year-old son of SJs Caviar-Stunning Lindsey to immediate command and after chopping out splits of :28, :56.1 and 1:24.1 the gelding kicked home in :28.1 to seal the deal in 1:52.2. Imperial Count came on strong to finish second, with Hes Spooky taking home third prize.
Julie Miller trains Sevruga for KDM Stable Corp of Farmingdale, NY. The 22-time winner improved this year’s record to 5-1-0 from just six trips to the track. The $15,000 payday boosted Sevruga’s lifetime earnings to $470,491.