The sophomore Muscle Hill colt Dyladmar was the most impressive winner in the four $13,500 featured races held at Harrah’s Philadelphia Thursday afternoon (April 27), winning the section for trotters in 1:53, just four-fifths of a second off the divisional track record held by Googoo Gaagaa.
Andrew McCarthy reserved the three-year-old trotter off the pace, then sent him on his way raw going down the backstretch. Dyladmar gradually trotted up to pacesetter Donzel Hanover, the winner last week in Dyladmar’s 2023 debut, but with a race under his girth it was the horse on the outside who proved the stronger here, lowering his mark by almost three seconds while covering his back half in :55.2, last quarter in :27.2. Paula Wellwood trains the promising youngster for Dreamville Stable.
There were two divisions of the feature for male pacers, with the faster won by the Captaintreacherous colt Ken Hanover in 1:51.3 to post a new mark in his 2023 debut. A winner of more than $160,000 at two when a multiple stakes winner, Ken Hanover brushed to the lead in front of the stands and was a handy winner for driver David Miller and trainer Polie Mallar, the latter co-owner with Patrick Leavitt, William Jordan and Dennis Osterholt.
Also taking a turn in the feature spotlight was another Captaintreacherous sophomore, the gelding Captain Albert G, who controlled the pace with two moves and won in a career-best 1:52.4. Jack Pelling drove the winenr for trainer/father Brett and the ownership of Melvin Segal and Pelling Racing LLC.
The distaff pacing headliner also produced a new mark, the 1:52.4 recorded by the Stay Hungry filly Legal Jeopardy. The winner moved nearing the final turn and had the most pace in the latter stages for driver Tim Tetrick, trainer Jim King Jr., and owners Jo-Ann Looney King and Kenneth Frieder.
Andrew McCarthy and David Miller headed the drivers colony with three Thursday triumphs.
Fade Out and Kickupyaheels N, 1-2 in last Friday’s $20,000 distaff Open Pace, have been assigned the outermost posts in this Friday’s top event for the females. The Open for males finds a well-matched group of six ready to face each other. Post time Friday is 12:25 p.m.
(PHHA / Harrah's Philadelphia)