Backseat Terror paced to her sixth consecutive victory in the $17,000 distaff pacing feature on Friday afternoon (July 5) at Harrah’s Philadelphia, stopping the timer in 1:51.3.
Lyons Hedgeabet had the top at the :27.1 quarter before Hurrikane Shorty moved to control the racetrack before the :55.2 half, with Backseat Terror moving uncovered. Up the backstretch, the Western Terror mare used strong strides to reach the three-quarters in 1:23, open up six lengths by the stretch call, and then prevail by 2-3/4 lengths over Lyons Hedgeabet, who recovered from a shuffle to save second.
Corey Callahan once again drove Backseat Terror for trainer Katricia Adams and owner John Barnard.
A pair of $16,000 events for non-winners of five races served as sub-features on the Friday program.
The split for female pacers was won by the Real Artist sophomore Abigail Dawn in 1:52. Alli Nui was determined to set the pace, getting parked past a :26.1 before getting the top, only to face a challenge from Abigail Dawn just before the :55 half. The battle raged on past the 1:23.2 three-quarters and deep into the stretch, where Abigail Dawn found room to gain a half-length advantage.
In the trot, driver Jeremy Morrison earned his second career win with the Chapter Seven sophomore gelding Chapter Fashion in 1:56.1. Chapter Fashion has now not lost a race this year in six starts in which he stayed flat, and Morrison grabbed early position, waited for the stretch, and closed up the inside to defeat pacesetter Hammer Creek by a half length for trainer Jim Campbell and Fashion Farms LLC.
The Somebeachsomewhere mare Lyons River Pride sped to a 1:50.1 lifetime mark in a $14,500 distaff pacing contest. George Napolitano Jr. made two moves to take charge of the throttle, and the pair hung up fractions of :26.3, :55.2 and 1:22.2 en route to a 3-3/4 length victory over favourite Believe In Me for trainer Gareth Dowse and owner Geoffrey Lyons Mound.
(with files from PHHA/Harrah's Philadelphia)