It is hoped that the Harrah’s Philadelphia racing surface can be as fast on “Super Sunday” as it was on Friday (May 26), when 12 horses took lifetime marks in the 14 races, and three horses were victorious in 1:50.
One of the 1:50 miles and new marks was put up by the Manhardt mare Man Dontforget Me, who went wire-to-wire in the $20,000 distaff Open Pace. Maximizing the good fortune of moving into post six because of scratches rather than starting from the dreaded post eight, Man Dontforget Me and driver Marcus Miller were willing to pay the :26 price to get to the lead, then backed off the half to :55. Favoured Gotthegreenlight engaged the pacesetter before the 1:22.3 three-quarters and stayed right at her in the :27.2 sprint home, but Man Dontforget Me was resilient and held on by three-quarters of a length for trainer Daniel Renaud and owner Robert DiNozzi.
The other 1:50 clockings came in high-level claiming events, and both generated lifetime bests. The Captaintreacherous gelding Voyager sailed to victory for driver Simon Allard, trainer Darren Taneyhill, and owner Eric Prevost. The other speedy winner was the Rockin Image gelding High Impression, driven by Tim Tetrick, the meet’s (64) and day’s (five) top driver, and successful off a claim by trainer/owner Clifford Scofield.
The highly-regarded three-year-old pacing filly Charleston, 10-6-4-0 at two and second in the Breeders Crown and Kindergarten Final, made her 2023 bow against a field of tough older horses and acquitted herself very nicely. The daughter of Downbytheseaside raced second-over as Big Bettor Hanover set splits of :27.2, :56.2, and 1:23.4 with In The Spotlight N on her back. Charleston was fifth, 4-1/4 lengths off at the head of the stretch. However, she put in twin splits of :27.1 in the back half to miss only a neck while dead-heating for second with Big Bettor Hanover behind the pocket rocket In The Spotlight N. In The Spotlight N took a new mark of 1:51.3 in winning for driver Tim Tetrick and trainer Jeff Cullipher, top conditioner at the meet and also co-owner of the winner with Pollack Racing LLC.
“Super Sunday” comes to Harrah’s Philadelphia on Sunday, with almost $640,000 in purses to be offered in what may well be the best harness racing card offered anywhere in North America so far in 2023. The three $100,000 Invitational races feature fields who have earned more than $17 million combined, and there will also be lively Pennsylvania Sire Stakes action for the “glamour division” three-year-old pacing colts. There will also be a $10,000 guaranteed Pick-4 pool on the bet stretching from Races 10-13, including the Invitationals. Program pages for the Super Sunday extravaganza are available here.
(PHHA / Harrah’s Philadelphia)