Checkered Past turned the tables on Dr Js Kiss in the $17,000 featured pace for distaffs Wednesday afternoon (Aug. 22) at Harrah’s Philadelphia, rallying smartly from the pocket to lower her lifetime mark to 1:52.3.
Last week Checkered Past, coming off a 21-day layoff and stuck with the outside post 7, set the pace in this class, but couldn’t hold off a late rally off cover from Dr Js Kiss. This week, the victorious daughter of American Ideal pushed her arch rival to a :27.1 quarter before yielding to sit the golden trip behind her through middle fractions of :57 and 1:24.2. Nearing head-stretch, Checkered Past moved out under Andy McCarthy’s guidance and paced past her rival to win by 1-3/4 lengths. Peter Foley trains the winner of $128,823 for All Star Racing Inc.
For McCarthy, again this year a serious candidate for the year-end Rising Star Award, the featured victory was one of six on the Wednesday card. In his last three appearances at Philly, he’s had 14 triumphs. He’s not doing so bad “on the road” either, having won the Roll With Joe Pace at Tioga on Sunday with Western Fame.
After making early breaks in all three of his previous starts, Fleet Admiral righted the ship with the help of careful handling from trainer-driver Jimmy Takter. They got away sixth ahead of a breaker in a field of seventh, brushed late on the first turn, and held well in the stretch to win in 1:54.4. The blossoming Muscle Hill sophomore, who had posted a win and a second despite his early-season breaks, is a full brother to All The Time and Ariana G, and is owned by Marvin Katz, Al Libfeld and the S R F Stable.
Pennsylvania-sired two-year-old pacing fillies take over the spotlight at Harrah's Philadelphia over the next two days, with the final Stallion Series preliminary round going in four divisions on Thursday (Aug. 23) and two sections of Sire Stakes action on Friday (Aug. 24).
(with files from PHHA/Harrah's Philadelphia)