The Explosive Matter sophomore gelding Chiplosive, returning to the form that helped him capture a Pennsylvania All-Stars and a PA Stallion Series division in recent outings, brushed to the lead at the half and wasn’t challenged from there in the $16,000 trotting feature in 1:55.4 at Harrah’s Philadelphia on Friday afternoon.
After a :27.3 first quarter, driver George Napolitano Jr. put the Trond Smedshammer trainee into motion, securing the lead at just about the :56.3 midpoint. None of his opposition had enough rally in the second half, with Chiplosive reaching the three-quarters in 1:25.4 and then coasting home 2-1/4 lengths ahead of the closing Amador to post his fifth seasonal victory for Purple Haze Stable LLC.
In a $14,500 pace for high-level females, the Western Paradise mare Lovineveryminute found room on the final turn, swung wide, and got to the front late in posting a $59.20 upset in 1:51.2. Tony Morgan, second in North American lifetime driving wins with 16,000+ to his credit, got Lovineveryminute to be most photogenic in a finish where five horses were separated by a length, boosting her earnings to $515,316. Carmine Fusco trains the winner for Brian and Ira Wallach Racing.
Tim Tetrick drove four winners on the day; Dexter Dunn and George Napolitano Jr. had three victories each.
(Harrah's Philadelphia)