Sitting second-over behind odds-on favourite We Will See, Peter Tritton's Malak Uswaad N ($19.60) showed a strong three-wide stretch kick to just beat Meirs Hanover in the featured $50,000 Open Pace on Sunday (July 22) afternoon at Harrah's Philadelphia.
Before a healthy Sunday live crowd, Malak Uswaad sat up close to a rationed early pace set by Meirs Hanover (Yannick Gingras) and tracked by pocket-sitter Rockincam (David Miller). With Ron Pierce moving 1-5 favourite and double millionaire We Will See first-over to force a fast pace on the backstretch, Tim Tetrick guided Malak Uswaad second-over, carried to within two lengths of the lead at the top of the stretch. In the last 70 yards, Malak Uswaad showed the most grit of any, digging in to just prevail over Meirs Hanover in 1:50.1. Rockincam re-rallied up the open stretch to save third, and We Will See checked in a disappointing fourth.
Malak Uswaad, a four-year-old New Zealand bred son of Bettors Delight, remains undefeated in the United States, recording four wins in as many starts since June 21, all of them at Harrah's Philadelphia.
(With files from Harrah's Philadelphia)