On a day much cooler than the average weather around Harrah’s Philadelphia in recent memory, it was the sophomore pacing filly Royally Hot who raised the mercury, taking the day’s $19,178 distaff conditioned pacing feature in 1:53.4.
Jack Pelling got the 2-1 second choice, a daughter of Bettors Wish and Mcsauna, away in third as first Sweet Molly (Mark Herschberger) and then Shangri La Hanover (George Napolitano Jr.). grabbed the racetrack in a :27.3 opener, with the top three positions unchanged at the :56.2 half. Past that point, the favourite Simply Perfect (Simon Allard) moved from mid-pack and got cover from Royally Hot, who was using Lasix for the first time.
The victorious Royally Hot swept to the lead down the backstretch, with Simply Perfect tucking in the pocket by the 1:25 three-quarters and Fengshuiprosperity (Corey Callahan) also in the lively outer flow. The anticipated stretch duel between the two chalk horses never materialized, as Royally Hot maintained a safe margin in the lane and was 1-3/4 lengths ahead of Fengshuiprosperity, who photoed Simply Perfect for the deuce. The win was her first in six starts this year after closing her freshman campaign with three straight Pennsylvania stakes wins.
Jim King Jr., who has specialized in getting the best out of pacing females (Shartin N and a list too long to name), seems to have found the key to this one for owner/breeder Tim Tetrick LLC – and with good timing, because Royally Hot is right back in next Thursday in a Pennsylvania Stallion Series race here.
The leading driver at Pocono Downs, Tyler Buter, has occasionally been coming to Philly to drive high-caliber horses, mostly young promising types, trained by Hunter Oakes, and that pairing teamed for victories with two two-year-old pacing fillies, both partially owned by Flying A Racing Stable. PA Sire Stakes winner Imagine Heaven (Papi Rob Hanover-OK Heavenly) was a pocket rocket in a 1:52.4 triumph for Flying A, Lucky Strike and Charles Oakes, while the Tall Dark Stranger-Tequila Monday miss Tall Dark Tequila got a similar trip while lowering her mark to 1:55 for Flying A and Chuck Pompey.
Team Buter/Oakes actually combined three times on the card, with the formful claimer Tru Blu Hypnotic also winning, but leaving a space in the Oakes trailer for the ride back north after being claimed.
Driver Mark Herschberger also posted three winners.
The racing week at Harrah’s Philly comes to a close on Sunday at 12:40 p.m.. The next card after that is Thursday, Aug. 7 and the return of the Pennsylvania Sire Stakes/Stallion Series to the local scene will feature none other than Miki And Minnie, last year’s champion two-year-old pacing filly and her group’s leader this year at three, who has another engagement – the Shady Daisy Pace at The Meadowlands on Saturday’s Hambletonian card – before coming to Philly towards mid-week.
(With files from PHHA/Harrah's Philadelphia; photo of Royally Hot from a previous win at The Meadows)