Coleen Dowdall's Cruise Patrol ($4.80) earned his third win in four starts at the current Harrah's Philadelphia meet, as he cascaded down the centre of the track to prevail in the last yards of a 1:51.2 mile in Sunday afternoon's (April 28) featured $18,000 top-level pace.
The six-year-old son of Bettors Delight gave way to standouts Blood Line (driven by Andy McCarthy) and Mach It So (David Miller) on approach to the first turn. He was content to draft behind early splits of :26.4 and :55.2, only to be locked in by the first-over Nuclear Dragon (Yannick Gingras) up the backstretch.
Just after Blood Line reached three-quarters in 1:23.2, George Napolitano Jr. found room to angle Cruise Patrol off the pegs in front of a fading Nuclear Dragon — but behind the 15-1 Rollinlikethunder (Art Stafford Jr.), who circled three-wide to pass stalled cover and challenge Blood Line for the lead turning for home.
As Rollinlikethunder struck the front off the corner, Cruise Patrol took aim down the grandstand side. In the final yards, Cruise Patrol lifted to the lead by collaring Rollinlikethunder by half a length. Blood Line narrowly held for third over Mach It So, who was just one-paced up the open stretch.
Cruise Patrol (#5) cascades down the grandstand side to victory on Sunday, April 28, 2019 at Harrah's Philadelphia.
Mike Dowdall trains 17-time winner Cruise Patrol.
In the sub-featured $17,000 upper-winners pace, Closing Statement ($2.40) issued a powerful declaration, as he jumped from second-level conditioned company and completed a first-over grind to defeat Romantic Interest by one length in 1:52.4. Dexter Dunn drove the four-year-old Somebeachsomewhere gelding for trainer Mark Harder.
The fifth-race Jackpot Hi-5 was again hit by multiple players, which has resulted in a $13,944.84 carryover to Wednesday's (May 1) card.
Post time for the Wednesday card will be at 12:25 p.m. (Eastern).
(Harrah's Philadelphia)