Market Share made harness racing history with a world record performance in the $250,000 Maxie Lee Memorial Trot co-featured on Sunday's harness racing card at Harrah's Philadelphia.
Market Share defeated former record co-holder Sevruga to establish a new all-age world record on a five-eighth mile track of 1:50.2. He shaved one-fifth of a second off the former mark, held by Sevruga and Uncle Peter.
With the inside post advantage, Sevruga (Ron Pierce) won an early battle for the lead leaving outsider Arch Madness (George Brennan) parked out through a blistering :26.1 opening panel. The latter eventually settled into a two-hole opening in front of Daylon Magician (Mark MacDonald). Meanwhile, heavy 1-5 favourite Market Share and driver Tim Tetrick watched the early action from fourth.
Sevruga continued to lead the field past the half in :54.3 and began to open up a couple lengths on top down the backstretch. However, Tetrick made his move with Market Share and began to reel in the leader as they approached three-quarters in 1:22.1.
Market Share briefly ducked into the pocket before moving up alongside Sevruga around the final turn. They took off down the lane in a two-horse breakaway, but Market Share eventually drew clear for the victory. Sevruga was the runner-up two lengths behind while DWs NY Yank (Matt Kakaley) rounded out the top three finishers over six lengths back.
Market Share earned his second win of the season in three starts as he rebounded from an uncharacteristic break in stride in last week's Arthur J. Cutler Memorial.
Linda Toscano trains the five-year-old son of Revenue S and Classical Flirt, who has 23 wins in 42 career starts and over $3.25 million earned, for owners Richard Gutnick, the T L P Stable, and William Augustine.
He paid $2.60 to win.
Tetrick later completed a sweep of the afternoon's stakes events as he guided three-time O'Brien Award winning pacing mare Anndrovette to a 1:50.2 triumph in the $250,000 Betsy Ross.
The seven-year-old Riverboat King-Easy Miss mare earned her second title in the Betsy Ross, having previously won the event 2011.
Anndrovette cleared to command after a contested :26.1 first quarter and led the field through middle splits of :53.4 and 1:21.3 with 6-5 favourite Drop The Ball (Corey Callahan) moving wide around a parked Yagonnakissmeornot (Dan Dube) and looming first over. However, Anndrovette drew off into the stretch for the two length victory. The late-closing Rocklamation (Matt Kakaley) was a runner-up for the second straight year in the Betsy Ross while Jerseylicious (Ron Pierce) finished four lengths behind in third.
Anndrovette earned second win of the year from seven starts and lifted her seasonal bankroll to nearly $200,000. The 37-time career winner who now boasts over $2.78 million in purse earnings is trained by P.J. Fraley for Bamond Racing LLC and Joseph Davino.
She paid $13.40 to win as the 5-1 fourth choice. Morning line favourite Shebestingin was scratched.
Tetrick ended the afternoon with a total of six wins on the 14-race card.