Not only did Shartin N and Hannelore Hanover win the final preliminary in their respective $30,000 Great Northeast Open Series events on Sunday (Sept. 1) at Harrah's Philadelphia, but they erased a pair of decade-long track records in the process.
Shartin N erased Southwind Tempo's 1:48.3 record for older pacing mares with a 1:48 performance in the Great Northeast mares pace (Race 11). Driver Tim Tetrick indicated the 40-time winner had plenty in reserve.
"I just kept the bit in her mouth and let her pace to the wire," Tetrick said. "It's cool what she did, and everyone who watched knew she could have gone a lot more. I could have gone 1:47.2 with no problem."
The six-year-old daughter of Tintin In America was unhurried at the outset, stalking from fourth at the pegs while Write Me A Song drilled a :25.4 first quarter. With nine-sixteenths to go and Caviart Ally taking control, Tetrick angled Shartin N first over and accelerated to take charge past a :53.3 half and clearing once entering the backstretch.
From there Shartin N was under a stout rein to the winning post, sprinting through a pair of :27.1 splits to cap her 1:48 mile with Caviart Ally giving pursuit one-and-a-half lengths behind. Apple Bottom Jeans finished third.
Shartin N's 1:48 mile also equaled the world record for pacing mares on a five-eighths mile track, a standard set by Somwherovrarainbow.
Jim King Jr. trains Shartin N for Richard Poillucci, JoAnn Looney-King and Tim Tetrick LLC. She paid $2.10 to win.
After faltering in her Maple Leaf Trot elimination last week, Hannelore Hanover bounced back with a 1:52 mile in the Great Northeast trot (Race 7), shaving two-fifths of a second off Buck I St Pat's course record for older trotting mares established in 2008.
The seven-year-old Swan For All mare worked to an easy lead from post 3 and controlled splits of :27.3, :56.2 and 1:24.3 in line to Yannick Gingras. Nearing the top of the stretch, Hannelore Hanover faced a brief challenge from Muscle M Up and appeared to have him measured. Off the corner Muscle M Up broke stride and Hannelore Hanover coasted to a three-and-a-quarter length win over Rich And Miserable, who inherited second. Pappy Go Go finished third.
Ron Burke trains Hannelore Hanover, who collected her 46th victory, for the Burke Racing Stable, Weaver Bruscemi, Frank Baldachino and the J&T Silva Stables. She paid $3.00 to win.
The sub-featured $18,000 top-level conditioned pace saw Rodeo Rock brush aggressively from fourth in progress to a 1:49.1 win over Trump Nation. Robert Cleary trains the six-year-old Rock N Roll Heaven gelding for Royal Wire Products Inc. Eric Goodell drove the $4.20 winner.
Rodeo Rock keyed a 5-3-1-6-4 combination in the fifth-race Jackpot Hi-5, which multiple players cashed in on for $107.86. As a result, a carryover of $12,257.89 will head to Monday afternoon's (Sept. 2) fifth race.
Post time for the 13-race Labor Day card at Harrah's Philadelphia is 12:40 p.m. (EDT).
(Harrah's Philadelphia)