It’s not very often, if not unprecedented, that a track’s “Late Double” in Tuesday morning qualifiers is won by a pair of Breeders Crown champions, much less Crown champion stablemates, but such was the case with four-year-olds Sandbetweenmytoes and Next Level Stuff for trainer Jim Campbell at Harrah’s Philadelphia.
The Somebeachsomewhere - Galleria gelding Sandbetweenmytoes, last seen at the pari-mutuels beating U.S. Horse of the Year Tall Dark Stranger while paying $409.80 to win in their Crown event at Harrah's Hoosier Park, followed up on a 1:55.3 qualifying triumph here last week with a 1:53 victory despite a “good +1” surface Tuesday. Driver Scott Zeron was a three-time winner on the morning; Campbell, who sent out four winners during the morning session, looks to have this one ready for facing the older stock for Fashion Farms LLC.
The Sebastian K distaff Next Level Stuff stepped her own last half in :57.2 in a 1:55.4 win for Campbell, Zeron, and the Runthetable Stables in her initial racetrack appearance since her Indiana victory. Her dam Nantab got a production double credit as the sophomore Creatine gelding Take All Comers, a 1:52.3 winner at two, came home in :56.4 to draw away in a 2:00.3 mile for Campbell, Runthetable, and driver David Miller.
Another sophomore worth noting was the Somebeachsomewhere – Swinging Beauty gelding Whichwaytothebeach, who stepped his own last half in :55.4 in a 1:55.4 triumph. Andrew McCarthy guided the Brett Pelling trainee, who won in 1:51.1f at two, for owners Alan Johnston and John Craig.
(PHHA / Harrah's Philadelphia)