The $16,000 featured races at Harrah’s Philadelphia on Friday were a study in contrasts: on the pace, War Crimes made it look really easy as she won her fourth straight race in 1:55.1, while on the trot Armageddon Seelster was extended to grind down pacesetter Lucky Shiela by a neck in 1:56.
The Western Terror mare War Crimes made two moves in achieving her victory. She made the top, forcing a tuck from and then surrendering the lead to A Oliveinmymartini to a :27.3 quarter, only to be right out and reclaiming command and reaching the half in :58.2. Successive :28.2 quarters coming home were enough to keep War Crimes 2-1/2 lengths ahead of Dance For Kisses at the wire for driver Tim Tetrick, trainer Josh Green, and Green Racing Inc. as the four-year-old pushed her record to 8-for-13 lifetime.
There were no fewer than five lead changes before the second turn of the highlighted trot, with Lucky Shiela winding up in front and Armageddon Seelster on her back. In the stretch driver Pat Berry ducked the victorious Muscle Mass gelding to the inside lane and just edged out the gritty leader by a neck for trainer Ron Coyne Jr. and the partnership of Ron Coyne Stables Inc., Blair Corbeil, and Mike Mcallister.
The $14,500 co-featured pace for fast-class distaff pacers had an exciting four-across-the-wire finish, with the American Ideal mare Jag Out proving most photogenic in a 1:53.4 mile. Jag Out had the tough first-up grind to surmount, but she proved best by a nose over potential pocket rocket Brazuca, who in turn was a neck ahead of the fast-closing Arts And Flowers, with pacesetting Sweet Bobbie just another neck in back of those three. The meet’s leading trainer, Nick Surick, conditions the winner, who pushed her lifetime bankroll to $405,214 for the Nick Surick Stable LLC and J L Benson Stables Inc. Tetrick again had the winning sulky assignment during a card where he visited Victory Lane five times.
(PHHA / Harrah’s Philadelphia)