During the first of five live harness racing cards at Harrah’s Philadelphia on July Wednesdays, sophomore filly Shangri La Hanover held off the late thrust of favoured Chakra to win by a neck while taking a new mark of 1:53.3 in the featured $16,438 conditioned pace for younger distaffs.
Driver David Miller had Shangri La Hanover on the move off the first turn and took over the point as the field passed in front of the stands the first time. Chakra, driven by Anibal Borjas, went after the second choice pacesetter late on the backstretch and those two duelled the rest of the way, with Shangri La Hanover able to maintain her advantage for trainer Linda Toscano and the ownership of Steven Held, South Mountain Stables, JAF Racing and the trainer’s Camelot Stable Inc. The Stay Hungry-Surfside Sexy filly prevailed by a neck to record her first victory of the season in eight starts after going two-for-five as a freshman.
In a $15,068 two-year-old male pace, the American Ideal-Southwind Inertia colt Southwind Iron lead from the first step to the last for driver Mike Cole, just withstanding a late charge by Mick Steamy and Tim Tetrick by a head to post his initial win in 1:57.1. Coming off a second in an Excelsior Series race, Southwind Iron broke his maiden for trainer Kevin Lare and owner Frank Chick.
David Miller had four wins on Wednesday to get to second place in the local standings, behind only Tim Tetrick, who doubled. Two of Miller’s four victories were with horses trained by the track’s leading conditioner, Izzy Estrada.
Philly will have its usual strong “Trottin’ Thursday” card beginning at 12:25 p.m., then for this Fourth of July card only will start Friday’s racing at 12:40 p.m., the same time at which Sunday’s program will begin.
(With files from PHHA/Harrah's Philadelphia)