Tim Tetrick, bidding for his sixth straight driving title at Harrah’s Philadelphia, helped his cause by sweeping the feature races for the developing horses and the fast-class veterans on "Trottin' Thursday," May 14.
Tetrick’s feature wins came in a natural hat trick, and the middle winner was the four-year-old Bar Hopping-Expect A Lot gelding Elan Hanover ($3), who took home the big share of the day’s richest purse, $18,493, by winning the conditioned headliner for up-and-comers in 1:56.3. Elan Hanover had not won since capturing his Pennsylvania Sire Stakes consolation on Sept. 6 last year, but he rewarded the crowd’s faith in him by making every pole a winning one, resisting a late move by Mamy Wata (Jonathan Ahle) by a half-length for trainer Enrico Robinson and owner Pollack Racing LLC. Abraham Hanover (Stacy Chiodo) was third. Elan Hanover won for the fourth time in 22 career starts and upped his earnings to $319,772.
Tetrick completed his consecutive triple with the 10-year-old Joke Face-Croix Dam gelding Ultion Face S ($2.20), who boosted his lifetime bankroll to $469,640 with a 1:53.2 front-end score in the $17,808 fast-class handicap trot. Ultion Face S took the lead and left B Mo (Jonathan Ahle) in the pocket, then withstood him down the lane by 1-1/4 lengths for trainer Per Engblom and owners Engblom Farm LLC and Jesper Arvenberg. Goo For Broke (George Napolitano Jr.) was third. The winner is now 19-for-99 lifetime.
The $16,438 conditioned dash for the improving youngsters went to the four-year-old son of Gimpanzee-Acorn Kronos It, Verse Nine ($5.80). The gelding was a maiden at two and did not get back to the races at three but now has captured his first two starts in 2026, including this Thursday trot in which he set a new mark of 1:55. Patrick Ryder got :27.3 speed from his horse to clear to the lead down the back, and Verse Nine went on to a 3-1/4-length victory for trainer Chris Ryder, who is also co-owner with Frank Canzone, M3 Racing Stable and Robert Mondillo.
Though a beaten favourite in her first three career starts, it never seemed an impossible dream to find La Mancha ($12.60) in the winner's circle, especially considering that the sophomore filly’s sire is Walner and her dam is Manchego. Her foes Thursday did not prove unbeatable — the second favourite broke and the chalk set a very quick tempo — and from the pocket, La Mancha posted a maiden mark of 1:55.1. She finished three-quarters of a length ahead of Bar Hall Beauty (Andy Miller) for driver Corey Callahan, trainer Nancy Takter, and owners Black Horse Racing and Herb Liverman.
Simon Allard, Corey Callahan and Andy Miller each had two wins on the 14-race card. Per Engblom had the lone training two-bagger.
Racing returns on Friday at 12:25 p.m. and Sunday at 12:40 p.m. at Philly. A week from Sunday, the riverside oval will present its Super Sunday extravaganza, with three $100,000 USD Invitationals plus a leg of the Pennsylvania Sire Stakes.
(With files from PHHA/Pocono)