Little Expensive won the $19,178 fast-class trotting feature on Thursday afternoon, June 5 at Harrah’s Philadelphia in a career-best 1:51.4.
Little Expensive, who has now won four of his last five races, and driver Andy Miller had no thought but going for the lead, with race favourite Resolve To Win stretching the winner a bit before yielding mid-first turn. Fractions of :27, :55.3 and 1:23.3 went up on the board with none of the other opposition really threatening. Then Resolve To Win moved outside to take his best shot, but the Julie Miller-trained winner withstood the chalk’s grind by a half length.
The five-year-old Muscle Hill-Seviyorum gelding, a $260,000 yearling purse and now career winner of more than $290,000, is owned by Andy Miller Stable Inc., Jean Goehlen and VIP Internet Stable.
Little Expensive was trainer Julie Miller’s second win of the day, and the name of the feature winner would have been appropriate to her other winner as well – the sophomore Papi Rob Hanover-Big McDeal filly Supermax Contract, a $350,000 yearling buy, who was driven by Andy Miller to her initial win in 1:53.
Heavy favourite Usain Hanover made a brush to the lead nearing the half in the $17,808 co-featured trot, then tried to lose his field with a :26.4 third quarter. But the Shake It Off Lindy-Bibbidi Boo gelding Chipper Dale, star of the Maine program at two and three, refused to be shaken off and he closed resolutely down the centre of the track to catch the tiring chalk in 1:53.3.
Now 25-for-41 in his career with earnings going over $400,000, Chipper Dale was driven to the win by Andrew McCarthy for trainer Per Engblom and the ownership of Evans Nation, Jeff Fought Racing and Brian Carsey, who purchased the horse within a week of his Maine stakes schedule ending.
Top driving honours for the day went to McCarthy's brother Todd, who had three wins, one more than Andrew, George Napolitano Jr., and Tim Tetrick. Julie Miller, as noted, trained two winners – the only conditioner who doubled.
Racing continues at Harrah’s Philadelphia on Friday at 12:25 p.m. and on Sunday at 12:40 p.m. Friday’s card will feature a carryover into the fifth race Pick 5 wagering pool.
(With files from PHHA/Harrah's Philadelphia)