Ontario Sires Stakes graduate Maching Me Zilly traveled her middle half in :56.1, largely raw, to secure the lead, then held off the field to win the $16,000 mares pacing feature on Friday at Harrah’s Philadelphia, with the time of 1:53.1 missing her lifetime record by a tick.
Maching Me Zilly won by 1-1/2 lengths over Zane Hanover, who had had the early lead before surrendering to the winner, then having her stretch comeback compromised by bearing out late. Hot-driving Tim Tetrick and reheating trainer Scott Di Domenico (now with 22 percent wins since May 16 after opening the meet 3-for-37) were the winning connections behind Maching Me Zilly, who is owned by John Mcgill, Brian Carsey, and the Triple D Stables Inc.
An even hotter pairing, driver George Napolitano Jr. and trainer Gilbert Garcia-Herrera, nabbed their fourth winner in the first eight races when Taketothesky N rallied off cover to be most photogenic in a three-horse picture while lowering her mark to 1:51.2 in a $14,500 co-featured mares pace. The victorious daughter of Gotta Go Colluct beat out first-over Amanderosa by a head, with pacesetter Berazzled just another head behind. Garcia-Herrera, who also owns the winner, needed only 130 minutes from the start of the card Friday to come within one of meet leader Ron Burke, with his 19th conditioning victory coming with the Kiwi import.
(PHHA / Harrah's Philadelphia)