A sloppy track did not stop Focus Pocus and Lucy Mae Hanover from collecting victories in the $14,400 trotting features on Thursday (July 1) at Harrah's Philadelphia.
The Muscle Massive gelding Focus Pocus left the gate strongly for driver Corey Callahan and was never threatened in his 1:55.4 victory, with the nearest challenger, 2-3/4 lengths back at the finish, being Harlequin. But the tables were turned this week for trainer Linda Schadel, who also co-owns the winner with her husband, Tony.
The Cantab Hall mare Lucy Mae Hanover sat off contested fractions, advanced second-over, was tipped three-wide on the far turn by driver Vinny Ginsburg, and held off closer Willing Hanover by 1-1/4 lengths in 1:56.4. Lucy Mae Hanover has now won two of three seasonal starts for trainer Richard Titter, who also co-owns with Susan Titter, Deborah Carman and Larry Garber.
In a $13,000 event for fast-class trotters, the Archangel gelding Angel Nation took his second straight race and continued in a rich patch of form, going wire-to-wire over talented rivals in 1:53.3. Driver Tyler Miller took some of the sting of his closest opposition with a :27.3 third quarter, then held off pocket-sitting Izoh by a half length for trainer Julie Miller and the partnership of Legendary Standardbred Farm and Ted MacDonnell.
Russell Foster led all drivers on the day with three winners, including $101.60 shocker Massive Matter in the 13th race.
The $12,600 Friday features are again divided in three: one each for each sex of pacers, and the other for trotters. Post time is 12:25 p.m.; program pages are available through the PHHA website.
(PHHA/Harrah's Philadelphia)