Features for all types of horses – trotters and pacers, fast-class veterans and developing younger stock – helped close out the racing week at Harrah’s Philadelphia on Sunday afternoon.
The top purse event of the day was a $15,300 pace and Yonkers invader Twin B Heart Throb overcame both the outside post and a tough two-move journey to get the job done in 1:52.1, a half-length ahead of an inside-rallying Jay Bracken A. Simon Allard drove the successful son of Betterthancheddar for trainer Jeff Cullipher, the meet’s leading trainer who is also co-owner with Pollack Racing.
The other side-wheeling headliner was a $13,500 contest in which the Captaintreacherous colt Captain Batboy remained undefeated in two seasonal races, taking the lead late on the first turn and staying clear in a lifetime best of 1:50.4. The meet’s top sulkysitter, Tim Tetrick, drove the promising sophomore for trainer Tom Fanning and owner Joseph Smith.
The first of two $13,000 features for high-level trotters went to Keg Stand, a winner of $370,502 in stakes company at two and three and a winner in his four-year-old debut in 1:52.4, a race mark. The son of Bar Hopping lured Yannick Gingras down for a cameo sulky appearance and Keg Stand had no problem in the latter stages for trainer Nancy Takter and owners Black Horse Racing, Christina Takter and John Fielding.
In the second trotting section, the two favourites, Betterinpinehurst and Flip The Switch, went full-out against each other the last five-sixteenths, with the Better Caviar gelding Betterinpinehurst overcoming first-over duty to catch the pacesetter by three-quarters of a length in 1:54.3. Trainer Jeff Cullipher and the partnership of Cullipher and Pollack Racing accounted for a feature win on each gait, and Tim Tetrick drove Betterinpinehurst, one of his five winners on the card and also a feature winner on each gait.
Harrah’s Philadelphia currently races on a Thursday and Friday (12:25 p.m. post time) and Sunday (12:40 p.m.) schedule, with Wednesdays (12:25 p.m.) to be added May 17. There will also be a live racing card at the southeast Pennsylvania oval on Kentucky Derby Day, May 6.
(With files from PHHA/Harrah's Philadelphia; Photo of Twin B Heart Throb winning at Woodbine Mohawk Park)