Resolve To Win overcame a hard trip Thursday (April 24) to take his second straight victory in the $20,833 fast-class trot at Harrah’s Philadelphia, winning the day’s handicap highlight in 1:53.2.
Last week, the altered son of Resolve was put on the lead and never looked back; this week he also took early command for driver George Napolitano Jr. (the track’s leading driver for the young meet and for the day with three victories), but then saw the lead change first to Ferretti near the :27.1 quarter then to Blackhawk Zette, who got a breather to the :57 half.
But Napolitano and Resolve To Win, now a winner of three straight and five of his last six starts, went on the grind at the half, and they overpowered the pacesetter near the 1:25 three-quarters. Resolve To Win was safely in control in the latter stages, winning by 2-3/4 lengths over Once In A Lifetime, who boosted in career earnings to nearly $800,000 in his seasonal debut after being seventh at the three-quarters. Resolve To Win, looking to be in the top form of his own $375,391 career, is conditioned by Jeff Cullipher for Pollack Racing LLC.
In the $18,750 co-featured trot for developing horses, the Greenshoe sophomore gelding Fashion Green exhibited no rust after being away from the races for nine months, lowering his mark to 1:53.1, quickest trot of the year here. Undefeated in four starts at two, including two PA Sire Stakes and a PA All-Stars contest, Fashion Green and driver Tim Tetrick may have had the backers who knocked him down to 1-20 a little worried as a 176-1 shot had four lengths at the half, but the three-year-old and the four-time defending Philly driving champ got going late at the backstretch, shot to the lead on the turn, and won by 4-3/4 lengths with neither horse or driver under any duress.
It’s a bit early to use the “H” word three-plus months away, but trainer Jim Campbell and Fashion Farms LLC have to be thinking they may have a world-class horse after his striking 2025 bow.
Younger horses were also featured in a pair of $16,667 contests. In the trot, the Bar Hopping colt Give Me A Yankee and Bay Breeze Hanover were both 4-5 on the tote board, with the former having $2 more on him to win than the latter, but the race wasn’t quite that close – Give Me A Yankee secured command at the quarter, then drew off in the last split to win by three lengths over Bay Breeze Hanover. Give Me A Yankee recorded a lifetime best of 1:55.2 for driver Simon Allard, trainer Mark Akins, and the A 1 Racing ownership of the driver and the trainer.
In the pace for males, 21-1 shot Xpert proved himself ready in his sophomore bow, the American Ideal colt taking a lifetime mark of 1:53.3 while winning his third straight race over the two-year span. Trainer-driver Pat Lachance had Xpert out in a lively flow third-over, and as the inside horses tired in the lane, Xpert roared to the fore, defeating second-over Top Tier by a neck for owner Jeff Dauplaise.
Filly and mare pacers claim the spotlight during Friday’s 12:25 p.m. program, while their male counterparts will be the focus of Sunday’s 12:40 p.m. card. There will be no racing at Philly on Thursday, May 1, but there will be a special Kentucky Derby Day card live program on Saturday, May 3, beginning at noon, with the regular Friday and Sunday cards completing the week’s action.
(PHHA / Harrah's Philadelphia)