The Sweet Lou–Well Read freshman pacing filly Sweeter Lulu made a stunning pari-mutuel debut in a contest for babies on Friday at Harrah’s Philadelphia, coming uncovered from sixth and just motoring on to the wire to stop the timer in 1:53.3, which according to the tabulations would make her the fastest two-year-old, female or male, on a 5/8-mile track in North America in 2018.
Stacy Chiodo trains and drove Sweeter Lulu, who paced her own back half in :56, for the Timothy Tobias Stable LLC. The previous 1:53.4 standard was shared by colt Lyons Night Hawk and filly Rose Run Uptowngirl.
The Well Said mare Brunhilda was as dominant a figure at Philly as her mythological counterpoint was on the battlefield, taking the contest with the biggest purse, a $16,000 pace for fillies and mares in a lifetime best 1:52.
Andrew McCarthy put the developing mare on the lead ahead of Belles Delight and cut fractions of :27.2, :55.4, and 1:24, then guided the favourite home in a :28 sprint to hold off the potential pocket rocket by a half length. Eddie Sager conditions Brunhilda for the Dead Crab Stable.
A $14,500 pace for more seasoned distaffs also fit the “speedy favourite holds off pocket horse” scenario, as the American Ideal mare Kaitlyn N made the top before the 26.3 quarter for driver Art Stafford, Jr., posted middle splits of 55.3 and 1:23.3, and then withstood the late charge of Berazzled by a neck in 1:51.3.
Trainer Joshua Parker co-owns Kaitlyn N with Nanticoke Racing Inc. and Barry Spedden. On May 1 and 2, Parker qualified four New Zealand imports, and the quartet have posted a record of 22-13-4-0-.695, missing one check, with Kaitlyn N’s own record now going to 8-6-2-0-$43,500 in her two-month North American racing career.
The meet’s leading driver, Tim Tetrick, had five victories on the day, including the longest shot to come home first Friday, the $52.00 trotter Blue Swan.
(PHHA / Harrah’s Philadelphia)