Many three-year-olds gave strong indication that they are ready to commence a good sophomore campaign while winning in Tuesday, April 15 qualifiers at Harrah’s Philadelphia.
Driver Andrew McCarthy, trainer Juan Cano and owner Hot Lead Farm led off with a sweep of the “Daily Double.” They won with the 2024 Breeders Crown finalist and Pennsylvania Stallion Series champion Gigglingonthebeach, a pacing daughter of Papi Rob Hanover who came out of the pocket and stormed home in :55.1 to stop the timer in 1:54.3, and with the trotter Conversano, a daughter of Muscle Hill out of the $500,000 winner Celebrity Ruth, also a pocket rocket in a 1:55.1 triumph. Andrew McCarthy wound up with four qualifying victories on the day.
Fashion Green, the Greenshoe trotting gelding out of $300,000 winner Fashion Athena, was perfect in four starts as a rookie, and he resumed his winning ways in his first trip behind the gate of 2025, winning in 1:54.2, with a :27.3 last quarter as he also rallied from the two-hole. Tim Tetrick had the sulky seat behind the promising sophomore for trainer Jim Campbell and owner/breeder Fashion Farms.
The fastest winner of the morning was the Captaintreacherous colt Captain Fear, who never looked back while romping by 13-3/4 lengths in 1:53.1, the quickest time he’s crossed the wire first. Andy Miller handled the sulky chores for trainer Tom Fanning and owners Howard Taylor and Falcon Racing.
Twisted Destiny beat Im The One by three parts of a length in the PA Stallion Series Championship for two-year-old pacing males last year; they both won their return qualifiers last week, and today they again went head-to-head. And Twisted Destiny won again, but he had to work hard, coming from last and pacing his last half in :53.4 to defeat Im The One by a neck in 1:54.1. Patrick Ryder drove the impressive Bettors Wish colt out of $1.8 million earner Tug River Princess for his father Chris and the ownership of Let It Ride Stables, Alberg Racing and Enviro Stables.
(With files from PHHA/Harrah's Philadelphia; photo of Fashion Green winning at The Meadows last year)