Bettors Delight mare Delishka N made a pace-controlling move in front of the stands the first time, then held off a wall of challengers the second time around to win the $14,400 featured distaff pace at Harrah’s Philadelphia on Wednesday afternoon (Sept. 16) in 1:51.
Dexter Dunn sent Delishka N out to early command, yielded to Bettor Joy N, then went onward again when favourite Machnhope made a move just past the :26.1 quarter. Delishka N went back to the lead around Bettor Joy N, with Machnhope, seeing a likely battle for pace control developing, got in a vacant three-hole before the :54.3 half.
The winner did not receive a strong challenge past the 1:22.2 three-quarters, but as they neared headstretch, there seemed to be 'live' horses everywhere. Delishka N was most 'live' of all, holding off inside rallier Machnhope by a half-length, with first-over Shezallapples A showing good determination late to gain third, a photo away from second. Bettors Joy N was beaten less than two lengths and still did not get a cheque from finishing sixth.
Richard Johnson trains the winner of $387,864 for D’Elegance Stable IX.
Still among the older females, the Well Said mare Caviart Cherie made it 3-for-3 since teaming with trainer Darren Taneyhill and the Wildcard Stables Inc., during that time going from the second-lowest condition at Pocono to the second-highest for mares at Philly on Wednesday, a $11,200 contest in which she posted a 13-1 upset in a new mark of 1:50.4. Joe Bongiorno rallied the winner of $399,947 from the pocket to overhaul the pace-setting favourite Anytime N by a length.
The $12,800 co-featured fillies and mares pace for the 'class-climbing crowd' saw New Year, who was 7-5 in a Pennsylvania Sire Stakes race against JK First Lady at Philly recently, enjoy the drop in company en route to a 1:51.4 triumph as a heavy favourite. George Napolitano Jr. drove the sophomore Somebeachsomewhere filly, who has now amassed $197,415, for trainer Chris Ryder and the partnership of Let It Ride Stables Inc. and Bottom Line Racing LLC.
Tim Tetrick won four races on the day, including with Iaquinta, who broke a 51-race losing streak dating back to June 29, 2018. She came from an unusual spot for winners at Philly, too – fourth-over -- with Tetrick keeping her off an overheated pace and then rallying her for the 12-1 victory.
(PHHA / Harrah’s Philadelphia)