Julie Miller trainee Opulent Yankee set a track record for aged gelding trotters on Thursday afternoon at Harrah's Philadelphia, scorching the surface in a sizzling 1:51.4. The race was for non-winners of $20,000 in the last five starts or non-winners of nine races or $90,000 lifetime going for a purse of $17,500.
Starting from post two, the six-year-old gelded son of Muscles Yankee went right to the front, setting fractions of :27.2, :56.2, 1:23.1, and 1:51.4. Golden Son (George Napolitano Jr.) finished second while Centurion ATM (Ake Svanstedt) completed the trifecta. Three horses -- Likeabatoutahell, Sevruga, and Obrigado -- shared the previous mark of 1:52.
Opulent Yankee is owned by Little E LLC, Art Geiger, and Dave Stolz, and was driven by Andy Miller.
There were also eight divisions of Stallion Series races for two-year-old colt and gelding trotters on the program. Hockey Hanover (Wilbur Yoder) went the fastest of all divisions, completing a first-over grind in 1:56.4 to remain undefeated in five starts. The gelded son of Explosive Matter-Hotentrot Hanover is owned by McMullen Stables, and is trained by Wilbur Yoder.
Other Stallion Series winners included Muscles Fashion (1:57), Stonebridge Gamble (1:57.4), Im Your Captain (1:57.4), Canaletto Hanover (1:57.4), Glide In The Wind (1:58.4), Fashion Will (2:00.2) and Roysons Tuffguy (2:00.2).
There will be four divisions of Pennsylvania Sire Stakes for two-year-old colt and gelding trotters on Friday afternoon (July 21) at Harrah's Philadelphia. First race post time is 12:40 p.m.
(with files from Harrah's Philadelphia)