Ruthless Hanover got to set a moderate tempo in the $22,500 handicap pace for males at Harrah’s Philadelphia on Friday (Sept. 16), then went on to a 1-3/4 length triumph over J M Mandamin in 1:50.
In the vast majority of the Standardbred world, fractions of :26.2, :55.1, and 1:22 would of course not be considered “moderate.” But when you consider that in his last start, while finishing second to Allywag Hanover at Philly, Ruthless Hanover passed the poles in :25, :51.4, and 1:19.1, the victorious Somebeachsomewhere gelding must have thought himself out for a training mile today. George Napolitano Jr. drove the winner of $297,173 for the brother team of trainer Tom and owner John Cancelliere.
In her previous race Majorca N had upset defending U.S. Horse of the Year Test Of Faith, but in Friday’s $22,500 companion handicap feature for pacing females, after she put up splits of :26.4, :55.4, and 1:23.2 she was caught from the pocket by the Irish-bred Oakwoodanabella IR in a 1:50.4 mile. The daughter of Foreclosure N pushed her bankroll for owner Denis Copse to $208,305 (not bad an increase of profitability rate when you consider in her first lifetime start, which she won, she earned $461), and she was handled by Tim Tetrick in the 1-1/2 length victory as trainer Jim King Jr. took her into his stable.
Tetrick, the meet’s leading driver, had four victories in all before leaving to race stakes horses in northern New Jersey Friday night; after he left, a horse he co-owned was a winner.
Sunday will mark the start of a “mini-Grand Circuit” with a pair of Liberty Bell stakes, a late-season series giving an extra opportunity for Pennsylvania-sired freshmen and sophomores a chance to go for good money. Two-year-old fillies of both gaits will go in three divisions of their respective events, with a pair of Liberty Bell races also scheduled for next Thursday, Friday, and Sunday at Harrah’s. Program pages are or will be available the PHHA website.
(PHHA / Harrah's Philadelphia)