The Cantab Hall gelding Mississippi Storm was given a top trip from post seven by driver Pat Berry and went on to win the $14,400 featured trot at Harrah’s Philadelphia Thursday afternoon in 1:53.4.
Figuring his odds would not be good in sitting next-to-last in the eight-horse field early, Berry got some early speed out of the Tom Fanning trainee and tucked in fifth as Vics Winner went to the lead before the :28.1 quarter, only to be replaced on top by the favoured Max, who got the field to the half in :56.4.
Berry’s early decision came sharply into focus when Tight Lines went up first-over from fourth off the second turn, as Mississippi Storm could ride his cover as Max and Tight Lines battled to and past the 1:25.1 three-quarters. Tight Lines grinded past the favourite in the lane, but Mississippi Storm had the freshest legs late and finished strongly to take a neck decision, with Max another half length back, while raising his earnings to $348,268 for owner Joseph Smith.
The Explosive Matters gelding Innisfallen and driver Vinnie Ginsburg used aggressive tactics in winning the $12,800 co-feature in 1:54.1. Innisfallen went to the lead, surrendered it briefly to Big Nudge, and then reclaimed the top before frontward-bound Sheer Muscle could pin him in. The pacesetter refused to yield to the outside challenger, got a big lead when the first-over broke and the pocket horse gapped going towards the final turn, and won handily for trainer Paul Fusco, who is also co-owner with Bramdeo Singh.
Ginsburg and Fusco came back in the very next race for a win with the trotter Zlatan, named after the star football (soccer to “Yanks”) player.
Fastest diamond-gaited winner on the “Trottin’ Thursday” card at Harrah’s was the Broadway Hall mare Broadway Athena, who lowered her mark to 1:53 in a $10,000 event. “Athena” spent the mile on the outside, much of it uncovered trying to reach runaway pacesetter Sylvesteramericait, but the six-year-old distaff collared the pacesetter turning into the stretch and led him home by 3-3/4 lengths for driver George Napolitano, Jr. (a six-time winner on the card) and trainer/owner Gilbert Garcia-Owen.
Friday’s card will feature $150,000 worth of Liberty Bell stakes series action for three-year-old fillies of both gaits at Philly, with the likes of Rocknificent and Next Level Stuff among the entrants.
(PHHA / Harrah’s Philadelphia)