Sweet Odds finally broke her run of “seconditis” with a 1:52.3 lifetime best effort in the $16,667 co-feature, a fillies and mares conditioned pace, on Friday afternoon, Aug. 22 at Harrah’s Philadelphia, while on the trotting side of the featured events Theobald came wide off lively cover to take the decision in 1:55.4.
Sophomore filly Sweet Odds had finished second six straight times, for times by a length or less, yet the public still backed her to the tune of 1-5, and the chalk repaid the confidence, leading through fractions of :27.3, :56.4 and 1:25 before adding on a :27.3 kicker to be 2-1/4 lengths clear at the finish. Simon Allard drove the Sweet Lou-Odds On Ashley filly, now a three-time winner in 18 starts this year after going winless in six as a freshman, for trainer Per Engblom and Morrison Racing Stables of Indiana, Pennsylvania. Wednesday Bluechip (Eric Goodell) followed in the pocket and Oh Ophelia (Jack Pelling) completed the top three.
Driven by Corey Callahan, three-year-old trotting gelding Theobald, the 2-1 second choice, followed the cover of favoured Flight Of Fritz (Johnathan Ahle), but for a large part of the race it didn’t look like anyone was going to reach 8-1 pacesetter Roandover (Andy Miller) as that Engblom trainee put up fractions of :28, :57.2 and 1:26.1. But the outer tier horses kept digging, and it was Theobald who had the most trot late, finishing a length ahead of Roandover, who in turn saved second by a quarter-length over Flight Of Fritz. Theobald, a homebred son of Six Pack out of Micheles Baby, is trained by Christopher Freck and owner Stormi And Bruiser Stable of Oyster Bay, New York. He earned his third career win in 23 starts.
The drivers of the featured winners, Allard and Callahan, visited Victory Lane three times each to tie for top honours on the day in that category.
In a $15,278 handicap pace for fast-class females, another daughter of Sweet Lou (out of Power Pack Hanover) got the glory, as Absolute Power won in 1:52 for driver Andy Miller and Team Cancelliere – trainer Tom and owner-brother John. Absolute Power raced in front with fractions of :26.4, :55.1 and 1:23.3 as wave after wave of wide challengers couldn’t reach. In the end, it was favoured Miss Chantilly N (Jack Pelling), third-in most of the way, who proved the biggest threat coming up the inside, but Absolute Power had enough power left to score a half-length decision. Misty Coast (Brandon Givens) was third.
Sunday’s 12:40 p.m. card is highlighted by $177,378 USD of stakes action, as the two-year-old trotting males will go in their fourth and final preliminary of their Pennsylvania Sire Stakes and Pennsylvania Stallion Series groups. The $300,000 USD Pennsylvania Sire Stakes Championships for two-year-olds (with $50,000 USD consolations if filling) will be held at Philly during a $1.4 million+ (USD) card on Friday, Sept. 5.
(With files from PHHA/Harrah's Philadelphia)