Stable Genius was photoed out last week closing as the favourite in the weekly fast-class trot at Harrah’s Philadelphia, but this week driver Todd McCarthy raced the Muscle Mass gelding on the lead, and the pair combined for a three-quarter length decision over Chake in Thursday’s (July 4) $20,548 handicap trot at the southeast Pennsylvania oval.
McCarthy got away third in the early action with Stable Genius as Chake took the field to a :27.2 quarter, then pointed his trotter frontward in front of the stands and had command before the :57.1 half. The two kept those positions through and past a 1:25.3 three-quarters, and Chake made the winner work to hold his advantage, which he did to the wire in the 1:54 mile. Jeff Cullipher trains the sharp winner for Pollack Racing LLC.
In the very next race, Todd McCarthy came back with the Muscle Hill sophomore colt Lavishness to take a new mark of 1:55.1 in one of two divisions of a $16,438 subfeature trotting class. Lavishness has now won three straight races and is improving from start to start, here succeeding for McCarthy (whose three wins led all drivers), trainer Lucas Wallin, and owners Wallin Racing Stable Inc., Wiesman Farms LLC, Joe Sbrocco & JAF Racing, and Peter Delis.
The other “Trottin’ Thursday” co-feature also saw the winner take a new mark, as the Six Pack three-year-old filly Six Inch Heels lowered her lifetime standard to 1:56. The sophomore grinded powerfully and successfully for driver Troy Beyer, trainer Christopher Freck, and owners James Magno and Marita Berglund.
With the stakes season for two-year-olds starting up, there were three $15,411 contests for pacing freshmen to help them continue polishing their skills.
Two of these races were for males: one went to the Captaintreacherous – Pure Paradise colt Captain Paradise while taking an impressive mark of 1:52.4 for driver Corey Callahan, trainer Jake Leamon, and owner Rick Berks; also successful among “the boys” was Pineapple Crunch, a Captain Crunch – Pineapple Hanover colt who made his purse bow a triumphant one in 1:55.1 by winning a photo for driver George Napolitano Jr. and Team Cancelliere – trainer Tom and owner John.
The baby filly returning to Victory Lane was also a debuting member of Team Cancelliere – the Papi Rob Hanover – If Ur Richimsingle miss Sheila Sazs, driven by Corey Callahan to a 1:56 triumph.
Racing continues at Harrah’s Philadelphia this weekend, with a Friday (July 5) card beginning at 12:25 p.m. and a Sunday (July 7) program starting at 12:40 p.m.
(PHHA / Harrah's Philadelphia)