A pair of $16,000 conditioned events, one on each gait, was featured on the Wednesday afternoon (July 25) card of live racing at Harrah’s Philadelphia.
The trotters were up first, and the Explosive Matter gelding Major Impact lowered his mark to 1:55.2 after he won by one and a quarter lengths over the pacesetting favourite, Scirocco Imsosmart. Victor Kirby rated his charge third-inside then moved out late on the turn as the first-over competitor faded. Major Impact came home well under confident handling for trainer Robert Baggitt Jr. and owner Christine Baggitt.
In the pace, the Western Ideal gelding Palomar had driver Tim Tetrick help him snatch a victory from the jaws of defeat while taking a new mark of 1:52. Palomar had tucked fourth from the outside Post 8, then moved out behind cover at the three-quarters pole. At that point he was gaining on the leaders when he put in a few funky steps mid-turn. Tetrick was able to quickly get him back on gait, and Palomar rallied to catch Aleppo Hanover right on the money by a nose for trainer Jim King Jr. and the Paton Racing Stables Inc.
Ubanji, one of the ‘French Foreign Legion’ of trotters imported from France to try their luck on U.S. shores, was ready at first asking, as he trotted a strong mile on the engine and stopped the timer in 1:55.1 for driver Andrew McCarthy, trainer Ed Gannon Jr., and owner Frank Canzone. The ten-year-old altered son of Jag De Bellouet paid $3.60 after his one and a quarter-length triumph.
(PHHA / Harrah’s Philadelphia)