Two natives of New Zealand, born just over 300 miles apart but who have spent most of the last decade 6000 miles apart, combined for a visit to the winner’s circle in the Harrah’s Philadelphia winners circle Friday, Sept. 15 as the Roll With Joe sophomore-filly Believe In Me, trained by Brett Pelling and driven by Dexter Dunn, won the $16,000 feature distaff pace in a career best 1:51.2.
Dunn spotted Believe In Me third early but, past the :27.1 quarter, he was out and rolling with his filly and made the lead well before the :55 half. Race-favourite Special Kay Deo, who defeated Believe In Me two weeks ago, came first over in the backstretch but her bid stalled before the 1:22.4 three-quarters. Dunn kept the winner rolling through the lane to win by two-and-three-quarter lengths. She is owned by the Bay Pond Racing Stable of Paoli PA.
In the $14,500 co-feature for pacing distaffs, Diamondtoothgertie posted her third win in four starts since going to the care of trainer Richard Johnson, taking a new mark of 1:51.3. Tony Morgan, who went over $130 million in career earnings earlier on the card and is now about 650 races behind Heinz Wewering for second place on the all-time world list for driving victories with 16,202, guided the victorious daughter of Sportswriter for D’Elegance Stable IX, Joseph Gandolfo, NR Holdings LLC, and Anthony Fiscetti.
Driver George Napolitano Jr. piloted five winners on the card for five different trainers.
(PHHA)