The three-year-old fillies A Good Chardonnay and Walover, a pair of daughters of Walner, both took a lifetime mark in the $12,600 featured trots at Harrah’s Philadelphia on Wednesday afternoon (June 14).
Andy Miller reserved A Good Chardonay, a $180,000 yearling purchase, off an early dustup, then moved his filly to the top in front of the stands. A Good Chardonnay, the heavy favourite, enjoyed an open lead for most of the second half, then held off the late move of a good-closing Boudicca by a length in 1:55.1. Julie Miller conditions the winner for Andy Miller Stable Inc., Michael Anderson and Jean Goehlen.
Precipitation caused the track to be downgraded to “sloppy” before Walover took to the track late in the card, but the $240,000 yearling now has a 2023 record of winning half her six starts after turning in a lifetime best of 1:56.1. Trainer/driver Trond Smedshammer sent the trotter right to the front and remained in control to the wire, holding off the quickly-developing Bur Bun by a length for Purple Haze Stables LLC.
Racing continues on Thursday at 12:25 p.m. at Harrah’s. The weekend features at Philly are solid: Friday’s $20,000 Open Handicap Mares Pace has the last two Betsy Ross winners, Max Contract and Majorca N, facing off against the classy Boudoir Hanover, while the $20,000 Open Handicap Pace on Sunday’s 12:40 p.m. card will feature the return of Southwind Gendry, who briefly had the all-age track record at Philly, 1:47.2, before it was shattered later on Super Sunday by Ruthless Hanover and his all-time best 1:46.3. Program pages for all races at Harrah’s Philadelphia will be available on the PHHA website.
(PHHA / Harrah's Philadelphia)