Four $12,600 conditioned events spotlighted some of the stars of tomorrow on Friday afternoon at Harrah’s Philadelphia.
One was reserved for distaff pacers, and it was won by the promising Sweet Lou sophomore filly Chase Lounge in 1:52.3. David Miller guided her to the lead nearing the quarter, held off outside opposition to the stretch, then withstood a game bid by Nashville Elgenna (Always B Miki–Anndrovette) by three-quarters of a length while streaking back fractions of :55.1 - :27.2. Chase Lounge won both her freshman starts, made a break in her 2021 bow, then tallied in 1:51 and now again today for trainer Roland Mallar and owner William Hartt.
Miller was also in charge of Move Over Some, the three-year-old daughter of Donato Hanover who appears to have put her behaviour problems behind her with the addition of trotting hopples. She went to the lead despite the outside post eight and was an easy winner in a new mark of 1:54.4 for trainer Donna Marshall and the partnership of John Earl Schmigel and James Marshall IV.
The other two features were devoted to male pacers. One of them provided the fastest mile of the day, from the Bettors Delight gelding Bettor Of The West, who did not look back in lowering his mark to 1:50.3, with a last quarter of :27.1. A rare Åke Svanstedt-trained pacer driven here by George Napolitano, Jr., Bettor Of The West has now won two straight for Åke Svanstedt Inc.
The Control The Moment three-year-old colt Century Hannibal has now won two of his last three outings after lowering his speed badge to 1:52.3 for driver Doug McNair, whose three victories led the driving colony. Trainer Noel Daley may be working with the pacer before his next start as the winner bore about six-wide in the stretch, but owner Paul Ritchie’s horse has unquestionable ability.
In the $11,200 fast-class pacing event, Mr Profeta was given a crafty steer by McNair, as the pair found clearance between horses after a third-inside journey to be along by a half-length over pacesetting Yankee Roller A while reducing his mark to 1:50.4. The Roll With Joe gelding was triumphant for trainer Jacob Hartline and Anatolia Racing LLC.
(PHHA / Harrah’s Philadelphia)