Driver Andrew McCarthy was the prime producer of two-year-old speed during the qualifying session that took place Tuesday morning (July 2) at Harrah’s Philadelphia.
McCarthy directed a pair of pacing colts to wins in 1:55.3 and a first-time-starting trotting colt to a 2:01.2 victory, which were the fastest for the day for their respective gaits.
Goldin Kid was put on the lead by McCarthy and went on to win in 1:55.3 – a mile that was punctuated with a :56.4 back half – for trainer Kelvin ‘Red’ Harrison, who co-owns the bay along with Howard Taylor. The Art Major colt is out of Crazy Luv Bug, a $200K+ winner whose dam, Luvs For Ever, produced five other $200K+ winners.
McCarthy then came back with Tito Rocks, a Sweet Lou gelding out of the million dollar-winning mare Ticket To Rock. Tito Rocks’ 1:55.3, front-end mile included a :56.3 back half for trainer Robert Cleary and owner Royal Wire Products Inc.
Loyal Fox Hanover was able to trot to a 2:01.2 clocking in his first competitive start. The Andover Hall colt – out of Lady Luck Hanover (whose dam is Beat The Wheel) – trotted his third quarter in :28.1 to move into contention for McCarthy before drawing clear. Chuck Sylvester trains Loyal Fox Hanover and co-owns along with Steve Jones, Mary Kinsey Arnold, and Paul Bordogna.
Although McCarthy orchestrated the quickest clockings of the morning, he was not the winningest driver, as 24-year-old Troy Beyer crossed the wire first with four juveniles: a trotter of each sex trained by Julie Miller, and a pair of pacing fillies trained by Tom Fanning. Driver Eric Carlson and trainer Ross Croghan also combined for a pacing victory with a member of each sex.
(PHHA / Harrah’s Philadelphia)