Ari Ferrari J again showed plenty of horsepower as the millionaire captured his second straight $22,535 Winners Over Handicap Trot, here in 1:52.2, on Thursday, June 25 at Harrah’s Philadelphia
The son of Walner-Dream Child, driven by Tyler Buter for trainer Tony Alagna and owner Kenneth Jacobs, was again assigned the outside post six. He was briefly three-wide at two different points on the first turn before establishing command past a :27.2 quarter, and he sailed right along through middle splits of :56.1 and 1:24.1. Benjamin Hanover (Tim Tetrick), who had forced a tuck from Dribbling Bi (Jonathan Ahle) early before yielding control to the winner, came outside for the drive but could get no closer than a length at the wire. Benjamin Hanover preserved second in a photo over inside charger Dribbling Bi.
The six-year-old Ari Ferrari J added another drop in his career earnings bucket, upping the total to $1,474,524 with his 18th win in 66 starts. He paid $3 at the windows.
Tim Tetrick visited the winner's circle five times on the 15-race card, including with last-race winner Spy Booth after a five-across finish while paying an un-Tetrick-like $53. The Hall of Famer also won with Swan By Land ($6.40), Captainforlife As ($2.60), Im A Big Shot ($3) and Dire Straits ($2.60). Philly's leading driver is 218-for-910 across all tracks this season for a win rate of 24 per cent.
Howlingathemoon Dk has now won two of his last three starts and three of his last six after leading at every pole in the $18,310 fast-class conditioned sub-feature. Simon Allard set sail with the seven-year-old Cantab Hall-Nobodybeatsthebeat gelding, who put down fractions of :27.1, :56.3 and 1:24.1 then warded off first-over favourite Shoresy (Andrew McCarthy) by 1-1/2 lengths in 1:53 for trainer-owner Pat Lachance. For July (Ake Svanstedt) finished third.
With the global sports extravaganza for soccer, the World Cup, in the midst of being played and partially hosted by the United States, it seems appropriate that David Seaman S, named after one of England’s greatest goalkeepers and a two-time World Cup participant, would win the $19,014 top conditioned trot race for developing horses.
The sophomore Six Pack-Dreamgirl Horniline gelding also found the front end as the path to victory, making the top in :28 and then backing off the half to :58.1. A 1:26.1 three-quarters preceded a :27.3 last quarter to complete the 1:53.4 mile a head to the good over a charging Jim Beam (Tim Tetrick). Just Teasing (Andy Miller) was third. Driver-trainer Åke Svanstedt’s Åke Svanstedt Inc. shares ownership with Stall Arsenal Ab (Arsenal was David Seaman’s club team for many years).
Sulky doubles were turned in by Troy Beyer, Tyler Buter, Andrew McCarthy and Svanstedt. Svanstedt also drove both of the winners out of his barn. Other conditioning doublers were Tony Alagna and Joe Columbo. There were a total of 10 sub-1:55 diamondgaited miles on the “Trottin’ Thursday” card.
Twin B Joe Fresh, the 2024 U.S. Harness Horse of the Year, will visit Harrah’s Philly on Friday afternoon, starting from the outside post in a $16,000 USD Fillies and Mares Winners Over Pace. She faces five rivals as she aims to regain her championship form.
(With files from PHHA/Harrah's Philadelphia; photo of Ari Ferrari J winning on June 9, 2023)