The two-year-olds were out in force during a Tuesday morning qualifying session at Harrah’s Philadelphia, but a pair of impressive three-year-olds showed them what they may eventually be aiming for.
Test Of Faith, the three-year-old Art Major filly who was the fastest two-year-old in 2020 with a 1:48.4 mile, was a handy winner here in 1:56.1, coming home in :27.4 for driver David Miller, trainer Brett Pelling, and owners Melvin Segal, Kentuckiana Racing Stable, and Eddie Gran. A winner of eight of nine as a freshman (her only loss a second after suffering an “ix”), Test Of Faith won her only start in 2021 with an impressive 1:52.1 clocking at Saratoga.
Another top Pelling three-year-old is Whichwaytothebeach, winner of all four 2021 starts including two PA Stallion Series races and a Reynolds cut, who came home in :55.4 - :27.1 for a 1:54 mile. A three-quarter brother to the fast Captain Barbossa, Whichwaytothebeach was guided by Andrew McCarthy for Alan Johnston and John Craig.
Among the two-year-olds, the fastest miles for pacers of each sex came in the “daily double.” Quickest of all was the Sweet Lou – Beach Showoff filly Showmeursweetside, who came her own last half uncovered in :56.3 - :27.4 to freeze the timer in 1:55.4 for driver Dexter Dunn and trainer Chris Ryder, the latter co-owner with Robert Mondillo and Barry Spak. This filly certainly has a strong maternal side from which to draw: her dam was the first foal of double millionaire and world champion Put On A Show.
A race earlier, the Sportswriter – Planet Ocean gelding Camealongway lived up to his name, coming from six lengths back at the three-quarters to get the win in 1:56.3, his own last quarter in :27. David Miller drove the Casie Coleman-Herlihy miss for West Wins Stable.
Among the trotters, the most advanced was Whiskey Hanover. The Bar Hopping – Winbak Maya colt crushed his opposition by 19 lengths in 1:59.3, with twin :29.1s on the end, for “Team Orange Crush” — trainer Julie and driver/husband Andy Miller, and the partnership of Andy Miller Stable Inc., Richard Gutnick, Let It Ride Stables Inc., and T L P Stable.
All of the two-year-olds were making their racetrack debuts.
(PHHA / Harrah's Philadelphia)