The 2016 edition of the Betsy Ross, which will take place at Harrah's Philadelphia this Sunday (May 29), is shaping up to be one of the most competitive races on the track’s star-studded 14-race program.
Harrah’s Philadelphia’s Sunday card will also feature the Maxie Lee Memorial Trot, the Dorothy Mullin Invitational Pace, an open pace, and two ‘winner's over’ races.
The Betsy Ross is an Invitational event for filly and mare pacers, going for a purse of $200,000. The Philadelphia seamstress is widely credited with making the first American Flag in 1776. Last year's Betsy Ross was the stage for a tremendous stretch duel between winner Radar Contact and the richest pacing mare of all time, Anndrovette, who is a past winner and multiple Dan Patch champion.
This year's edition features three million-dollar mares. The first of which, Yagonnakissmeornot, drew Post 1. The seven-year-old daughter of The Panderosa is the leading money earner in the field, with career earnings just shy of $1.4 million. The Rene Allard trainee went on quite a terror in the month of April, as she won two legs of the Bluechip Matchmaker, and then the finals at Yonkers. If she were to win on Sunday, it would be the 40th of her career.
Last year’s Jugette winner, Sassa Hanover, has drawn Post 2. She has also earned over $1 million in her career from just 42 lifetime starts. She is coming into Sunday's race off of three straight second-place finishes, including a loss to Devil Child in her last race. Devil Child will start from Post 4 in this event.
Colors A Virgin is the third millionaire mare in the group. The 2014 Jugette winner will be looking for her first win of the season in what will be her fourth start. Her last win came in the 2015 Breeders Crown, where she was able to fight off Sandbetweenurtoes (who has been entered in a winner's over for mares on Sunday's program) and Venus Delight (2014 Bluechip Matchmaker winner), who will start from Post 3 in the event.
The most formful mare in the field right now may be Black Horse Racing's Katie Said. The five-year-old daughter of Well Said was on her way to winning last year's Breeders Crown for aged mares when a break late in the stretch while leading cost her the race. The Jimmy Takter trainee is a perfect three for three so far this season. She's coming off of a last-to-first power sweep in her last race, a winner's over at Harrah’s Philadelphia.
The complete field appears below in post position order.
$200,000 Betsy Ross
(Post – Horse)
1 – Yagonnakissmeornot
2 – Sassa Hanover
3 – Venus Delight
4 – Devil Child
5 – Katie Said
6 – Waasmula
7 – Sell A Bit N
8 – Colors A Virgin
There is a six-hour detention for the three big races (Maxie Lee, Betsy Ross, and the Dorothy Mullin).
The Riverview Terrace will be open for lunch from 12-4 p.m.
Sunday will also be Family Fun Day, with face painters, balloon artists, and many more activities for the kids.
There will also be a $10,000 guaranteed Pick-4 pool, which will encompass Race 9 through Race 12 (the Pick-4 will also include the invitational races).
(Harrah’s Philadelphia)