Several quality performers, including several promising three-year-olds, were on display during Tuesday morning qualifiers at Harrah’s Philadelphia.
Andy Miller drove three of the winners, including one for wife/trainer Julie – and this filly might have the best potential story even if she won in only 2:00 in her first career charted line. Elegant Charm, a daughter of Father Patrick out of Muscle Massive and Muscle Mass's full sister Graceful Kelly, trotted her own last half in :57.2 to win by three lengths – no financial return on the $300,000 spent on her as a yearling perhaps, but a nice debut to build on for owners Brittany Farms LLC, Marvin Katz and Al Libfeld.
Miller also catch-drove a pair of winning pacers: the Sweet Lou gelding PJ Lou, third in the Kindergarten Final last year, to a 1:53.4 win, stepping home in :54 for trainer Mark Harder; and the American Ideal mare Itzpapalotl in 1:54.3, with a second-half sprint of :55 for trainer Annette Lorentzon.
Tim Tetrick and Jim Campbell combined for a pair of trotting winners, with the son/father pairing of Jack and Brett Pelling pulling off a double on the pace.
The Creatine gelding Take All Comers made his four-year-old debut a very convincing one for Tetrick/Campbell, the Hambletonian cheque-getter racing on the engine and stopping the clock in 1:54.2, with a back half in :56.3, for Runthetable Stables. The pair also won with a Fashion Farms LLC sophomore filly, the Donato Hanover miss Design Fashion, who won in 1:57 with a back half of :57.
The Pellings won with the American Ideal sophomore filly Wickedly Innocent, who rushed home in :55.4 to complete a 1:56 score for Hot Lead Farm LLC, and the Somebeachsomewhere gelding South Beach Star, winner of the Stallion Series Championship and a Liberty Bell division last year at three, who was the day’s quickest winner at 1:53.2, setting the pace and coming home in :54.3 for All Star Racing Inc.
Harrah’s Philadelphia will be racing on Thursday and Friday at 12:25 p.m., then will be dark Sunday in observance of Easter.
(With files from Harrah’s Philadelphia/PHHA)