Pennsylvania Sires Stakes divisions for three-year-old trotting colts and a $70,000 Open Handicap Trot were supposed to be the main attractions on Friday afternoon at Harrah’s Chester, but Mystery Photo ended up stealing the spotlight
in a $30,000 conditioned trot for Team Miller.
The husband and wife duo of driver Andy Miller and trainer Julie Miller watched Mystery Photo front-step his way into the history books when he toured the five-eighths of a mile oval in 1:52.3, thus matching Manningly’s world record for four-year-old trotting horses on a five-eighths of a mile oval.
Mystery Photo shot to the front and laid down panels of :27.4, :57 and 1:24 before using a :28.3 last quarter to seal the deal by 1-3/4 lengths as the 9-5 favourite. Lolique rode cover and finished second, with Zitomira tagging along to finish third in the eight-horse affair.
The son of S Js Photo-Enchanted Victory improved his 2011 record to 7-1-2 in 13 starts with the victory while pushing his lifetime earnings past $258,000 in the process. He is owned by David & John Prushnok, William Gregg and Erv Miller.
In the $70,000 Open Handicap Trot, Corleone Kosmos turned back the clock and stepped up with a powerful performance for driver David Miller and trainer Ross Croghan. The nine-year-old son of S Js Photo-Rose Street Gal watched Neighsay Hanover and Winning Mister take turns on the lead through early fractions of :26.3 and :56 and tipping out and prompting Winning Mister to the three-quarter pole in 1:24. A :28.4 is all it took for Corleone Kosmos to draw away to the 1-1/4 lengths score over Anders Bluestone in 1:53. Neighsay Hanover grabbed the show dough.
The victory was third of the season and the 23rd lifetime tally for the gelding who is just shy of $2.1 million in lifetime earnings. He is owned by Arthur Rudolph, Rudolph Stables Inc and Bernard Owen.
Mortgage Paid (1:52.4), Foxy Lady (1:52.3) and Fresh Idea (1:52.3) were victorious in their respective $69,704 divisions of the Pennsylvania Sires Stakes for three-year-old pacing fillies.