The Sunday faithful at Harrah’s Philadelphia had the two featured paces pegged correctly on July 5, as both heavily backed favourites reported home first on the card – but neither by more than a half-length.
The top purse was the $19,286 offered to the up-and-coming males in a conditioned pace. The Perfect Sting-Little Miss K sophomore gelding Everlast Sting Deo sat in the pocket behind the fractions of :27.2, :55.4 and 1:23.4 set by Sonofanutcracker (Tim Tetrick), then worked by that rival to score by a half-length in 1:50.4. Mark Herschberger drove the improving youngster for trainer Travis Alexander and Morrison Racing Stables. Good Friday (Corey Callahan) finished third. The winner improved his career record to five-for-20.
The finish of the $18,571 fast-class conditioned pace was even closer. The four-year-old Rockin Image-Nightcap gelding Saba Rock ($2.60), dropping out of Graduate Series action, laid down lightning numbers of :26.1, :54 and 1:21, then summoned enough to ward off potential pocket-rocket Wedlock Blue Chip (Troy Beyer) by a nose in 1:49, reducing his mark by a tick. Bettor Not Talk (Tim Tetrick) completed the ticket. Andrew McCarthy drove the victorious Per Engblom trainee for the partnership of Jeff Fought Racing, Brian Carsey and Adam Friedland. Saba Rock is now 11-for-30 lifetime.
Simon Allard led the local colony on the 14-race card with three winners. Doubles were recorded by Mark Herschberger and meet leader Tim Tetrick, the latter’s brace coming for the Burke Brigade. Travis Alexander also conditioned a pair of victory-lane visitors.
In recent weeks, the only obstacle to Ari Ferrari J’s winning the feature on “Trottin’ Thursday” at Philly has been the extreme heat which caused last Thursday’s card here to be cancelled. This Thursday, he goes for his third straight victory in the $16,000 USD Winners Over Trot, but he’ll have to overcome the outside post eight.
(PHHA/Harrah's Philadelphia; photo of Saba Rock winning on April 25)