A range of events for many types of top-level horses were in the spotlight at a hot Harrah’s Philadelphia on Sunday, June 29.
Male pacers working their way to the higher ranks (and bigger purses) were gathered for the $18,493 conditioned feature. After travelling third through first-half fractions of :27.4 and :56, the Captain Crunch-Pineapple Hanover ridgling Pineapple Crunch attacked uncovered and swept to the lead just past the three-quarters in 1:23.4, then stayed clear of his opposition while finishing his mile 1:51.2. He won by a length over Trumpster Blues (Mark Herschberger) with Always B Gibby (Brad Chisholm) third. Andrew McCarthy was in the winner's sulky for Team Cancelliere – trainer Tom and his brother, owner-breeder John. The three-year-old Pineapple Crunch is now five-for-15 lifetime with $72,873 in earnings.
Two $16,438 events served as the sub-features for the card. On the pace, Welcometotheshow certainly lived up to his name by reducing his lifetime mark to 1:50.1 for driver Josert Fonseca and trainer Nancy Takter, the latter also co-owning the three-year-old Tall Dark Stranger-Come See The Show gelding with Joe Sbrocco, JAF Racing LLC, and Martha Frank. Welcometotheshow had a trip similar to feature winner Pineapple Crunch, moving from third down the backstretch and going his own third fraction in :26.2 to take a clear lead before the three-quarters, and he went on to win by 4-3/4 lengths. Best Chip (Herschberger) finished second from Seaworthy Hanover (Dave Miller).
The sub-feature for trotters was won by Seal The Deal As, an International Moni-High Musclemass sophomore filly, who took a new mark of 1:54.3. Tim Tetrick got the filly to first-over position after the half and, like most of the feature success stories, cleared to the lead before the three-quarters, with never an anxious moment through the lane for trainer Anette Lorentzon and owner ACL Stuteri AB. The filly was 5-1/4 lengths the best over Theobald (Corey Callahan) and Last Of Braggert (George Napolitano Jr.).
In the afternoon’s $15,068 pace for fast-class veterans, Pat McGarry A remained undefeated in four 2025 starts at Philly, pacing his own last half in :54.2 uncovered (have we heard that story before?) to just catch pacesetting favourite Bettor Not Talk (Tetrick) by a nose in 1:51 under the guidance of Dave Miller. Lyons Surfing (Troy Beyer) finished third. The winning Joe Bongiorno trainee, owned by Howard Taylor, now has 34 victories since coming to North America, divided equally between Philly and the other tracks at which he’s raced – except to get to that 17 number, the nine-year-old Million Dollar Cam-Lady Pia Lombo gelding has needed only 34 starts at the southeast Pennsylvania oval (50 per cent) while taking 72 starts at other North American tracks to reach the same win figure.
The Fear The Dragon-Cheery gelding I Fear Nothing had not gotten a cheque when entered for a $6,000 USD tag in his last start before hooking up with trainer Izzy Estrada, but it’s been nothing but upward mobility since then. On Sunday, I Fear Nothing received all kinds of pressure on the lead in a $15,068 handicap pace for horses valued at $27,397 to $34,247, and he resisted all comers while winning in 1:52.1. The Boss Said (Simon Allard) was beaten a length in second with San Domino A (Tetrick) completing the trifecta. I Fear Nothing has won four of five starts since he changed barns, with Troy Beyer driving here for owner Jaypaul Hoover.
Dave Miller got hot late on the Sunday card with three victories and tied for Sunday honours among the drivers with Troy Beyer, who drove two winners early then captured the last contest. Geovany Hernandez won both races for the American Harness Drivers Club with pacers Rocknroll Gold and Phelgon -- the latter his own trainee.
Harrah’s Philadelphia will be adding a 12:25 p.m. live card for the five Wednesdays in July to its regular schedule; it should be noted that the card on the Friday, July 4, will have a first post of 12:40 p.m.
(With files from PHHA/Harrah's Philadelphia)