Eurobond took the top fast-class trot at Harrah’s Philadelphia for the second week in a row, winning a $15,068 handicap contest in 1:52.2 on Thursday afternoon, May 30.
This week’s field might have been a touch easier than last week’s, but on Thursday, Eurobond went from the inside number one starting spot to the outside post six. The winning son of Love You limbed out almost to the :27.3 opening station to grab the racetrack, but driver David Miller, tops at Philly on Thursday with three sulky successes, was able to string out much of the field during middle splits of :55.4 and 1:23.4. The one who did make a move was Sinatra De Vie, who came out uncovered late in the backstretch and briskly moved to give Eurobond a hard challenge, but the winner was able to keep his talented opponent three-quarters of a length behind at the finish.
Eurobond has now won three straight starts and has amassed $755,573 lifetime. Owned by Morrison Racing, he is trained by Per Engblom, the leading trainer in terms of both wins and money earnings at Philly, and perhaps more impressively is tops in money amassed North-America-wide – the first time in a long time that somebody not named Burke has held that lofty position.
Up-and-coming performers contested a pair of $16,438 races, one on each gait. The trotters were led by the Tactical Landing filly Valentina Richie, who sprang from the pocket to catch pacesetter Kellys Greatest by 2-1/4 lengths in a career best 1:54.3 for Team Orange Crush (driver Andy Miller and trainer/wife Julie) and the ownership of Jason Allen, Patrick Hoopes and Julie Meirs.
Mastering the pacers was the Sweet Lou gelding Sweet Ideal, who earned a new speed badge by winning in 1:52.1, holding off hard-charging Final Chance by three parts of a length for driver Troy Beyer, trainer Bill MacKenzie and owner Alma Iafelice.
The Friday, May 31 card at Harrah's Philly, starting at 12:25 p.m., will feature carryovers in both the Pick-4 (first race) and the Pick-3 (seventh race); the racing week will then conclude with a 12:40 p.m. card on Sunday. Next week, Philly swings into its basic schedule of racing on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday at 12:25 p.m. and Sunday at 12:40 p.m.
(PHHA / Harrah's Philadelphia)