NF Happenstance, the leading money-winning harness horse in North America so far in 2018, added to her bankroll today (Thursday, April 19) by winning the $22,500 Winners Over Handicap Trot at Harrah’s Philadelphia in 1:54.2.
Assigned the outside post in the field of seven, NF Happenstance made the lead before the :28.1 quarter for driver Jack Parker Jr., then rested to the half in :57.3. The victorious daughter of SJs Caviar, trained by Carol Jamieson-Parker, had to get to the three-quarters in 1:25.2 to see off the bid of the first-over Jack Vernon, and then through the stretch was chased by the horse riding Jack Vernon’s cover, Rock Of Cashel. But NF Happenstance showed her determination and held off Rock Of Cashel by a neck, with Jack Vernon another one and three-quarter lengths back in third.
Owner James Moore III now has a mare who has eight wins and three seconds in 13 seasonal starts, and is a winner of $140,450 this season. NF Happenstance has only two more days to wear her crown – Yonkers has the $373,000 Blue Chip Matchmaker Final and the $532,000 Levy Final on Saturday – but it’s not likely you’ll hear Moore or the Parkers complaining.
In the $17,000 co-feature trot, the Holiday Road mare Holiday Promise made it three of her last four, going wire-to-wire, with the “Promise” exacta completed by Broadway Promise, who was a half-length back at the end of the 1:56 mile. Tony Morgan handled the sulky duties behind the winenr for trainer Josh Green and owners Howard Taylor and Richard Lombardo.
(PHHA / Harrah’s Philadelphia)