A week after having been narrowly defeated by Cruise Patrol in the final yards, Daniel Warrington and Donald Hawk's Rollinlikethunder ($3.80) braved an uncovered journey and 'sloppy' going en route to a 1:52 win in Sunday's (May 5) featured $18,000 top-level conditioned pace at Harrah's Philadelphia.
Unable to find a seat on the first turn, Art Stafford Jr. eased the four-year-old Roll With Joe gelding to the back of the field of six through a :27.2 first quarter clicked off by leader Robbie Burns N (who was driven by Dexter Dunn). With a circuit to go, Rollinlikethunder — who remained in the two-path — began his ascent in the breeze, and worked to within four lengths of the lead through a :55.3 half while unable to find cover.
Up the backstretch, Rollinlikethunder directly engaged Robbie Burns N through a :28 third-quarter duel before going on to claim a narrow lead at head-stretch. After putting the pacesetter away off the corner, Rollinlikethunder was driven clear to his fourth seasonal win by one and three-quarter lengths, while Dubious Claim (Tim Tetrick) hooked three-wide from the pocket to just collar the all-out Robbie Burns N for second.
Eli Scott Jr. trains 11-time winner Rollinlikethunder.
Rollinlikethunder, pictured, passed all five of his rivals en route to a 1:52 win in Sunday's featured pace at Harrah's Philadelphia.
In the first of two $17,000 upper-winners paces on the undercard, Hayden Hanover ($5.20) captured his second win in as many starts this season by way of a pillar-to-post 1:52.3 score. Andy Miller drove the four-year-old son of Somebeachsomewhere for trainer Andy Miller.
The second sub-featured event saw Sweet Sun Daze ($12.20) and David Miller ride the pocket to a 1:54 win for owner-trainer Arty Foster Jr., angling out at the top of the stretch to reel in a softened Drinkin Again.
Jackpot Hi-5 carryover continues to grow
Punters will have the chance to take down a $19,505 carryover in Wednesday afternoon's (May 8) Jackpot Hi-5, scheduled for the fifth of 12 races on the card. The 20-cent wager requires players to select the top five finishers in the race, with the carryover paid out in the event of one unique winning ticket.
Wednesday’s first race will head behind the gate at 12:25 p.m.
(Harrah’s Philadelphia)