The richest purse on Thursday (Aug. 15) at Harrah’s Philadelphia was the $18,000 contest for high-earning conditioned horses, but three other trots went faster than it did — including the most-anticipated matchup of the day, a $14,500 trot which saw red-hot Eurobond defeat Homicide Hunter in 1:52.
Eurobond, a four-year-old son of Love You who had won three straight before missing less than two lengths in the Cashman in his last start, blasted away from the rail for driver Andy Miller, who with trainer Julie Miller had four wins on the day. Homicide Hunter, from post four, was hustled forward early by David Miller to land in the pocket behind Eurobond through fractions of :27.1, :56 and 1:24.2.
Homicide Hunter angled outside on the far turn, but didn’t pose a serious threat to Eurobond, who finished out in :27.3 to be 1-1/2 lengths ahead on the money for Lindy Farms Of Connecticut and Robert Rudolph.
The fans could not decide between the two, and the end result was a split decision: Eurobond was the even-money second choice who paid $4.00 to win, but the 1-4 exacta with Homicide Hunter returned $3.60.
The $18,000 contest was taken by Faithfulandtrue, who produced a 15-1 upset for trainer Joseph Columbo and the ownership of George & Tina Dennis Racing. Driver Michael Cole brushed the Donato Hanover gelding sharply to the lead in the middle of the backstretch and was in control from there, taking a new mark of 1:54.4 and withstanding Boy Meets Girl K by 1-1/4 lengths.
Team Orange Crush accounted for the other $14,500 co-feature with Top Flight Angel, who enjoyed a reduction in company and won in 1:53.2 for the Legendary Standardbred Farm while raising his earnings to $865,340. The other fast trot came in a $12,500 contest, which was won by the Holiday Road gelding Henderson Seelster in 1:53.3 for driver Tim Tetrick, trainer Paul Stafford, and owner Thomas Ceraso Jr.
(PHHA/Harrah's Philadelphia)