The Yankee Cruiser mare Baron Remy, who had equaled a world record at Northfield Park two starts ago, came to Harrah’s Philadelphia on Friday afternoon (August 2) and promptly took the $18,000 featured pace in 1:51.
Come-from-behind horses had not been fairing well at Philly this week, but driver Brian Sears, seeing many horses out for early spots, had Baron Remy, who drew the outside of the eight-horse field, near the back with cover for most of the mile. He then got her in gear behind the second-over cover of Sidewalk Dancer when first-over Scuola Hanover cleared to the lead before three-quarters. The four-year-old had plenty of work still to do at the top of the stretch, but she turned on the afterburners and won going away by 1-3/4 lengths over Keene Olivia, who came clear to the inside, with Sidewalk Dancer third and Scuola Hanover fourth.
Baron Remy, whose 1:50.3 mile at Northfield equaled the half-mile track standard for four-year-old pacing mares, has earned the bulk of her $556,232 in Ohio, where she was the Sire Stakes champion at three – in fact, in winning for the 12th time in 36 career starts, the Ron Burke trainee notched her first win away from the Buckeye State in her 14th attempt. Burke Racing Stable LLC and Weaver Bruscemi LLC, J&T Silva Purnel & Libby, and Lawrence Karr own the sharp mare.
Sears also included the $17,000 co-featured distaff pace among his four triumphs on the day, guiding heavy favourite Philly Hanover to an easy win in 1:52.1. Moved to the front early, the victorious daughter of Captaintreacherous did not look like a horse who had had only one start in the last 34 days, coming home in :55.4 with Sears quietly sulky-sitting for trainer Ron Coyne Jr., and the partnership of Blair Corbeil and Ron Coyne Stables Inc.
The carryover for the Jackpot Hi-5 continues to grow at Harrah's Philadelphia, with $67,256.21 awaiting players in the fifth race on Sunday afternoon (August 4).
Despite Friday afternoon's fifth race going to 16-1 longshot Don Dorado, multiple players had the winning 4-5-7-9-6 combination — involving the two favourites finishing second and third — for a dividend of $274.98.
The 20-cent wager carries a low 15 per cent takeout and occurs daily in the fifth race, with the carryover paid out in the event of one unique winner. In the event of no or multiple winners, the carryover progresses to the next card. The highest Jackpot Hi-5 dividend to date at Harrah's Philadelphia is $35,989.90, claimed on the May 23 program.
Post time on Sunday is 12:40 p.m.
(PHHA / Harrah’s Philadelphia)