Banzai As overcame post seven and ground out a first-over journey en route to victory in Thursday's (April 15) featured $12,800 event for developing trotters at Harrah's Philadelphia.
Banzai As and Tim Tetrick endured a tough first-over journey to beat pacesetting favourite Rose Run Vincent in a lifetime best 1:56. Anette Lorentzon trains the Lionhunter gelding for ACL Stuteri AB.
In one of two $11,600 co-features for fast-class trotters, the Explosive Matter gelding Rich And Miserable passed $500,000 in career earnings when he posted a 1:54.2 victory for trainer Todd Buter and the partnership of Buter Farm Inc., Lynette Buter and William and Carol Fuhs. David Miller guided the veteran trotter to the lead after an early battle and kept him rolling to defeat the late closing Chaptiama by 1-3/4 lengths.
In the other $11,600 fast-class trot, Hayek rode the pocket behind Sylvesteramericait, then easily overhauled that one by 2-1/2 lengths while taking a new mark of 1:53.2, a tick lower than his former record, when he set the all-age track mark at Grand River Raceway. Joe Bongiorno drove the E L Titan gelding for trainer Jenn Bongiorno and the partnership of Evan Katz, David Rovine Stable LLC and Frank Canzone.
(with files from PHHA/Harrah's Philadelphia)