Gold Medal Swan extended his winning streak to three races on Thursday (June 20) at Harrah's Philadelphia, closing for a 1:54.1 victory in the $18,000 top-level trotting feature before a storm hit the area.
Driver David Miller landed the winner of $180,446 in fourth as 72-1 shot Tough Mac bolted from post 8 to the quarter in :26.3. By the time that one had moderated the half to :56.2, Cash For Gold was out from third to go first-over, with Gold Medal Swan right on his back. Cash For Gold cleared to the lead towards the 1:24.2 three-quarters, leaving the favourite uncovered on the far turn. Cash For Gold battled on in the lane, but Gold Medal Swan kept gaining on his hard-used foe, and in the end he dashed clear by 1-3/4 lengths.
Mark Silva owns and trains the Swan For All gelding who has now won three of his six 2019 starts.
Two-year-old trotters — all making their purse debuts — contested two $13,000 races, one for each sex. In the filly race, held before the storm arrived, the Muscle Hill-Viva Las Lindy miss Hannah vacated the three-hole at the three-quarters, went to the lead in the stretch, and then withstood closing favourite Sherry Lyns Lady by three-quarters of a length in 1:57.2, which was a North American divisional season’s record in addition to her first winning outing. The fleet filly posted individual back fractions of :57.4 and :28.4 for driver Andy Miller and trainer Julie Miller, and the ownership of Andy Miller Stable Inc., Lawrence Dumain and Little E LLC.
In the race for males, the Trixton-Lima Playmate colt Play Trix On Me came to his contest with a 2:00 qualifying win at Pocono, and he came out of it with a mark of 1:58.1 despite the arriving rain for driver Tim Tetrick, trainer Gareth Dowse and owner Matthew Dugan. The victorious favourite made a quarter-move and controlled the pace, showing fine end speed of :28.3 to win by 5-3/4 lengths.
Another freshman winner was the pacing filly Shotgun Persuasion, who dropped in against one other two-year-old and six older foes in a maiden event. The daughter of Western Ideal and Merculese was spotted in midpack early, went out then back in down the backstretch to avoid gapping cover, then got clearance up the inside in the stretch to win by a nose in 1:57.1 for driver Tim Tetrick, trainer Jim King Jr., and owner JoAnn Looney-King.
(PHHA/Harrah's Philadelphia)