Unraced at two and slow to get going at three, Hes Packin is starting to show that Team Cancelliere’s patience with him may be worthwhile, posting his second straight win on Wednesday (June 26) in the $14,000 featured pace at Harrah's Philadelphia.
Andy McCarthy sat fourth with the Western Ideal gelding as favourite Scirocco Mistysaid made an early brush to the lead going by the :27.3 quarter. Nearing the :56.1 half, Hes Packin advanced uncovered before scorching a :26.2 individual third quarter to take over by the 1:23 three-quarters. He stayed strong to the finish to record a new lifetime mark of 1:50.4, 6-1/2 lengths clear of nearest challenger Jessicas Beach Boy for the brother team of trainer Tom and owner John Cancelliere.
With the Pennsylvania Sire Stakes and Stallion Series for two-year-olds beginning next week, Harrah's Philadelphia has carded several races for juveniles this week, with three $13,000 events for pacers today.
The faster of two events for males saw the Captaintreacherous-Charisma Hanover colt Hey Run Me Over lead through fractions of :28.3, :58 and 1:26.2 before finishing out in 1:54.1 to take a tick off Keystone Dash’s mark set in a Pocono qualifier. Already a qualifying winner in 1:57.2 for trainer Rollie Mallar and fellow owners Linwood Higgins and Patrick Leavitt, Hey Run Me Over dropped over three seconds off that clocking for McCarthy after defeating Lous Sweetrevenge by a length.
Hunter Hill, a Somebeachsomewhere-Ali Blue colt, recorded his second pari-mutuel victory in 1:55 after breaking maiden against older foes. Hunter Hill quarter-moved for Tim Tetrick before sprinting home in :27.4 for trainer Chris Oakes and the ownership of Tom Hill, the Northfork Racing Stable and John Craig.
In the lone pacing filly event, Cowgirl Lilly advanced at the five-eights with her own third quarter in :27.4, then edged clear of pacesetter MBT by 2-1/4 lengths in a 1:54.4 mile. A daughter of Western Ideal and Sand Speed, Cowgirl Lilly followed up on her 1:55.4 qualifying win at Harrah's Philadelphia successfully with Tetrick, who wound up the day with four winners, driving for trainer Jim King Jr. and owner JoAnn Looney-King.
(PHHA/Harrah's Philadelphia)