In an unusually-competitive race even by the high standards of Harrah’s Philadelphia -- How many races have you seen where there is one horse one-wide and seven horses two-wide approaching the three-eighths mark? -- the one working out the best trip was the Gotta Go Cullect mare Taketothesky N. She was tipped wide to make the lead in midstretch and hold off Skippin By by three-quarters of a length, paying $90.00 to win in the $18,000 distaff pacing feature Friday afternoon at the Philly oval.
Eric Carlson had the winner of $101,548 in second-over position behind dueling favourites Jewel Lehigh A and Princess Fabulosa in the :27.1 third quarter, then launched her successful stretch charge to reduce her mark to 1:50.4. The Kiwi import is now perfect in two starts since owner/trainer Gilbert Garcia-Herrera brought her to Harrah’s.
For fans who follow horses with platinum-quality pedigrees, E L Platinum got his breakthrough victory in his third lifetime start, tucking then going first-over, but still having enough to post a 1:57.3 tally. A sophomore son of Muscle Hill and Courtney Hall, and thus a full brother to $700,000 winner E L Titan and a Yankee Glide half-brother to $600,000 winner Appomattox, E L Platinum was driven by Brett Miller for trainer Bob Stewart and Emp Invest Oy, part of the empire of breeder Erkki Laakkonen.
(with files from PHHA/Harrah's Philadelphia)