At Harrah's Philadelphia on a warm Friday afternoon on Aug. 15, three perfect-trip horses -- two of them “pocket rockets” -- were winners who caused the tote board to blow up with giant mutuel payoffs, with this big-return phenomenon occurring in both the feature races.
The feature was a $16,438 conditioned pace for up-and-coming distaffs and it went to the Control The Moment-Mystic Dance sophomore filly Mystic Moment, a well-travelled sort who came to Philly and promptly returned $90.80 for a $2 win ticket. William Carter guided the winner into the pocket early behind favoured Sweet Odds (Simon Allard), enjoyed the golden seat until the far turn, then came out and went by the chalk to win by 1-1/2 lengths in a career best 1:52.2, with poor Sweet Odds finishing second for the sixth time in a row and the 10th time this year. Mystic Moment is trained by Besim Odza for Brian and Ira Wallach Racing.
In the $15,068 co-feature handicap for fast-class horses, Miss Chantilly N swung wide off lively cover then dashed home in :26.3 to win in a new lifetime best of 1:50.3 and return $45.40 to her scattered backers. Jack Pelling, whose three driving successes on the day topped the sulky-sitters, handled the winning seven-year-old daughter of Captaintreacherous-Bettor Rose for trainer Dylan Davis, who is also co-owner with Howard Taylor.
Another $50+ bomber connected in the race before Miss Chantilly N’s win and she was the other two-hole success story. The nine-year-old Somebeachsomewhere-Arden Caviar mare Pearl Harbour N sat in the pocket, ducked to the inside and withstood a late burst from Giovona By The Sea (Jonathan Ahle) while winning in 1:55.2 for driver Mike Cole, trainer Bryson Dunning and owner Robert Kluchevitz. Pearl Harbour N paid $65.80 to win.
Philly had not had a $50+ winner since July 23, but on Friday it had two in one day.
The racing week concludes at Harrah’s Philly on Sunday, with a card beginning at 12:40 p.m. that features higher-class horses in various combinations of class matchings; there will also be carryover going into the fifth race Pick 5 pool.
(With files from PHHA/Harrah's Philadelphia)