Tiger Thompson N roared to the fastest mile of the young season at Harrah’s Philadelphia on Friday afternoon (April 19), fronting a good field at every call to win the $18,000 pacing feature in 1:50.1.
Dexter Dunn got the strong Big Jim gelding to the lead before a :26.1 quarter after clearing from the outside post seven, and then rated a breather to the half in :56. There was no catching Tiger Thompson N after that, as he streaked home to finish 2-3/4 lengths clear of pocket-sitting Crockets Cullen N for his second straight win.
Joshua Parker trains the razor-sharp Tiger Thompson N, and he shares ownership in him with Nanticoke Racing Inc., Stephen Messick and Prestige Stable.
The top distaff pacing event on the card, a $14,500 contest, also fell to Dunn and Parker, as Better Decision N followed the example of her stablemate and set sail on the lead for a 1:53 win. A daughter of Bettors Delight, Better Decision N blitzed home in :55.4 for Parker, who co-owns with Nanticoke Racing and Donna Messick.
Dunn and Parker also teamed up in a $14,500 high-level conditioned pace, where Robbie Burns N caught pacesetter Great Vintage by a neck in 1:52.1.
In the featured $16,000 trot, Spee Club forced wholesale tucks with an alert start from the rail and then continued on unchallenged to prevail in 1:56, tying his personal best. The son of Cantab Hall was driven to his second straight victory by Art Stafford Jr. for trainer Erin Neilson, co-owner with David Neilson.
After yielding no winners for a second consecutive day, the 20-cent Jackpot Hi-5 will offer a $9,197.72 carryover in the fifth race on Wednesday afternoon (April 24), when racing resumes at Harrah's Philadelphia. Post time is 12:25 p.m. Eastern.
(with files from PHHA/Harrah's Philadelphia)