The state of Pennsylvania's star two-year-old pacers and trotters were in action on Sunday afternoon (September 11) at Harrah's Philadelphia. They were competing for purses that totaled over $1.2 million, with the finals going for $252,000 each.
In the two-year old filly trotting division championship, John Butenschoen trainee Fine Tuned Lady (Corey Callahan) went down the road for owners William Wiswell and M&L of Delaware Inc. The daughter of Cantab Hall set fractions of :28.1, :57.2, and 1:26.2, before completing the mile three parts of a length better than race favourite Cant I (John Campbell), in 1:55.3. Temple Ruins (Yannick Gingras) rallied on for third.
It was the third win of the season for Fine Tuned Lady, boosting her career earnings to over $200,000.
In the consolation for two-year-old filly trotters, it was Fashion Farms' Donato Fashion (Tim Tetrick) scoring a huge upset to take the $50,000 affair. The daughter of Donato Hanover drafted behind live cover before taking aim in the stretch to win in 1:57.1. It was the first career win for the Jim Campbell trainee. She returned $48.40 to win.
The Butenschoen/Callahan connection struck again in the two-year-old colt and gelding trotting championship, as Giveitgasandgo lived up to his name. The son of Yankee Glide powered to the front end just past the quarter, and led every step after. The fractions were :28.1, :56.4, and 1:26.1. The Butenschoen trainee was able to hold off the upset bid of the pocket-sitter Moonshiner Hanover (Scott Zeron) to win by a head in 1:56. Affair Of Honor (Tim Tetrick) finished third.
It was the sixth career win in eight starts for the talented freshman trotter. Giveitgasandgo has now bankrolled over $215,000 in his career. He is owned by Harmony Oaks Racing, David J. Miller, Lawrence Means, and VIP Internet Stables.
Perhaps the show-stealing performance of the card, however, occurred in the two-year-old colt and gelding consolation. Todd Rooney and Kim Farmer's Don Dream (Dave Miller) set a track record for two-year-old colt trotters in a stunning display. Taking command off the wings, Don Dream rated the half in :58.4, before trotting the back half in :56.3 to stop the clock in 1:55.2, breaking a nine-year-old track record. The previous mark of 1:55.3 was held by Lear Jetta, and accomplished in 2007.
The two-year-old filly pacing championship saw Aaron Lambert trainee Agent Q (Dave Miller) avenge her two straight losses to race favourite Idyllic Beach (Yannick Gingras). The daughter of Western Terror had to brush after longshot Someomensomewhere (Marcus Miller) found the front early. Agent Q was immediately challenged by Idyllic Beach, releasing her before the half. At the top of the stretch, Agent Q took aim, and powered by for a two-length win, stopping the clock in 1:52.
It was the third career win for Agent Q, as she boosted her bankroll to more than $304,000. She is owned by Martin Scharf, Robert Muscara, and Bill and Tanya Rochetti.
The freshman filly pace consolation went to a grinding Gotthisone Hanover (Yannick Gingras). The daughter of Somebeachsomewhere was able to hold off the fast-closing favourite Miss Jones (Dave Miller) to win for just the first time, stopping the clock in 1:54.1. She is owned by Burke Racing, Frank Baldachino, Aws Stables, and Weaver Bruscemi.
The two-year-old colt and gelding pacing championship was taken in front-end fashion by Ray Schnittker trainee Huntsville (Tim Tetrick). The son of Somebeachsomewhere brushed past early leader (and eventual second place finisher) Downbytheseaside (Matt Kakaley) and was able to hold off a host of challenges to win in 1:51.1. Race favourite Fear The Dragon (Dave Miller) settled for show.
It was the third win of Huntsville's career, vaulting his lifetime earnings to over $215,000. He is owned by Ray Schnittker, Ted Gewertz, Charles Iannazzo, and Steve Arnold.
The consolation for the freshman colt and gelding pacers went to R J P (Marcus Miller). The son of Somebeachsomewhere was able to work out a cover trip after tucking early. He swept by in the stretch to win by a little less than a length, holding off the 80-1 longshot Bellows Binge in a furious stretch drive. It was his first career win. R J P is owned by Dave and John Prushnok, David J. Miller, and Lawrence Means. He is trained by Erv Miller.
(with files from Harrah's Philadelphia; photos -- courtesy World Wide Racing Photos -- clockwise from top left: Agent Q, Fine Tuned Lady, Huntsville, Giveitgasandgo)