Tim Tetrick became only the seventh North American driver to reach 13,000 victories when he guided Sir Isaac Newton to victory in the fourth race at Harrah’s Philadelphia on Wednesday afternoon (Aug. 31).
The Captaintreacherous-Newborn Sassy two-year-old gelding, co-owned by Tim Tetrick LLC along with Jo Ann Looney-King and trained by Jim King Jr., had not raced in 35 days, and Tetrick followed the “gravitational” pull of the pylons with Sir Isaac Newton. Tetrick rallied the horse from sixth all the way up the inside, pacing his own back fractions of :54.3, :27.1 to post a head victory over Storm The Court in breaking his maiden in 1:53.4.
Tetrick, 40, has won seven driving dash titles in the history of Harrah’s, and is well ahead this year in the pursuit of his eighth season's title. He also has eight local UDR crowns. The countless superstars he has driven have under his guidance earned just shy of $249 million, third on the all-time list.
There were three $12,600 events for developing horses in the feature spotlight on Wednesday. In the trot, the four-year-old Muscle Hill mare Chablis was glad to be away from Bella Bellini and Graduate company, making the lead at the quarter and going on to an easy 5-1/4-length victory in 1:55 over Cocktail Fashion, who completed the “teetotaler’s nightmare” Exacta. Corey Callahan drove the winner for trainer Jonas Czernyson and Consus Racing Stable Inc.
The first of two paces for males saw the Betting Line gelding Yo A J keep his record perfect after two starts, again mounting a big stretch charge that carried him to victory in a lifetime best 1:53, three-quarter lengths over favoured Effingham. Steve Smith had the sulky seat for trainer Kathleen La Montagne, co-owner with Donald La Montague.
The other male pace was taken by the Sweet Lou gelding Dreaming Of Lou, coming from well off the pace, which saw multiple lead changes, to take a mark of 1:52.2. He’s owned by Tim Tetrick LLC and Jo Ann Looney-King, and for the day Tetrick had five driving victories (now at 13,004), Looney-King’s husband and trainer Jim King Jr. had four successes, and Looney-King herself three as an owner.
This was the last Wednesday program of the “regular season” at Harrah’s Philadelphia; the track will be cutting back to a three-card-a-week schedule starting next week.
Some terrific racing will be taken place at Harrah’s Philadelphia this Labour Day holiday weekend, starting with the talent-packed “Trottin’ Thursday” card, which will have a $2127.05 carryover into the third-race Super Hi-5 bet. On Friday (Sept. 2), 2021 Harness Horse of the Year Test Of Faith will make the first betting start of her career at Philly, assigned the outside in a field of six in a $22,500 fast-class distaff pace. And on Sunday (Sept. 4), $1.3M will be on the line on Pennsylvania Sire Stakes Championship Day for two-year-olds, with $252,000 finals and $50,000 consolations for each of the four freshman groups, along with a $40,000 Invitational pace.
Thursday's (Sept. 1) and Friday cards begin at 12:25 p.m. (EDT); Sunday’s racing starts at 12:40 p.m.
(PHHA / Harrah's Philadelphia)