Over a Harrah’s Philadelphia oval not friendly to closing horses, the Sweet Lou sophomore colt Hellabalou made a startling 2021 debut on Wednesday (April 14), winning an $11,200 co-featured pace in 1:51.1, covering his own last half officially in :53.
Hellabalou was third over as pacesetter Step On The Gas attempted to take his third win in his last four starts. But when driver Andrew McCarthy sent Hellabalou wide early in the backstretch to circle dull cover, he responded with a sizzling :25.4 third quarter and kept going to race first-over into the far turn. From there, he paced away to a one-and-three-quarter length victory over Step On The Gas.
Hellabalou, who took a lifetime mark with the victory, showed promise early as a freshman with a win in an Arden Downs Stake on Adios Day at The Meadows, but then his fortunes went south and he was stopped with around Labor Day. Trainer Eddie Dennis was in the sulky when Hellabalou qualified in 1:54.2 for his qualifier, and now owner Eric Good finds himself with at least a Pennsylvania Sire Stakes prospect, if not more.
In the other co-feature for pacers, Montrell Teague sent Nextmovebestmove, a gelded son of Mr Wiggles who had won the only race of his career the year before, out to the lead and kept him going to the beam to lower his mark to 1:53.4 for trainer Clyde Francis and owners George Teague Jr. Inc. and David Collins.
If this pattern and general cast of characters seems reminiscent, that’s because the story of Nextmovebestmove parallels one of a horse named Wiggle It Jiggleit – who won his first 10 starts in his second campaign and go on to become a legend. Nextmovebestmove is now four and won his only start at three after missing all his freshman season.
In the $11,200 feature for trotters, Ginger Tree Knox showed steady improvement throughout the last three-eighths of a mile, catching first-over Real McCoy while reducing his record to 1:56.1. Andrew McCarthy, top driver on the day with three successes, guided the Bar Hopping gelding for trainer Steve Cook and the partnership of Sam Beegle, Ginger Tree Ventures LLC, Double D Racing Stable, and Reber-Chesen Stable.
The Thursday (April 15) card at Harrah’s Philadelphia will feature fast and competitive races among the veterans of the racing wars and the up-and-coming stars of tomorrow. First-race post is at 12:25 p.m. (EDT). Program pages will be available at the PHHA website.
(PHHA / Harrah's Philadelphia)