Full Of Muscles, a Muscle Mass-Windsong Nolwenn gelding who had last raced at Yonkers Raceway on Aug. 6, came back to the races strongly for trainer Doug Dilloian Jr. to win the $22,535 Winners Over Handicap Trot on Thursday, Sept. 24 at Harrah’s Philadelphia in a lifetime-best 1:53.
Hey Porter (Mark Herschberger) yielded the early lead to the winner, who in turn surrendered the top to favourite Little Expensive (Tyler Miller) towards the :27.1 quarter. The chalk passed the next striped pole in :55.3, then had Super Duper Cooper (George Napolitano Jr.), last week’s winner in this class and assigned the outside in the field of eight, pressure him uncovered through a 1:24.3 three quarters, with Full Of Muscles in prime position.
In the stretch, it was the pacesetter and not the grinder who gave way first, but as Super Duper Cooper got a slim lead, Trae Porter had Full Of Muscles in high gear quickly, and the pocket-sitter outsprinted the first-over horse by a length. Hey Porter rallied for third.
Full Of Muscles, now a winner of $455,101, is owned by David Linker, Brian Loman and Robert Venable. The eight-year-old gelding is now 14-for-95 lifetime. He paid $38.40 to win.
The defeat of Little Expensive, the even-money favourite who finished fifth, helped cause a Superfecta carryover with the first four finishers being Full Of Muscles (18-1), Super Duper Cooper (3-1), Hey Porter (7-1), and Clear For Landing (20-1).
In the $18,310 fast-class conditioned handicap sub-feature, Outside The Fire ($3) overcame the dreaded tuck-then-first-over journey, grinding down the pacesetter and then keeping potential pocket rocket Bright Side Up (Simon Allard) at bay by two lengths in 1:53.2. Duly Resolved (George Napolitano Jr.) finished third. Johnathan Ahle sat behind the victorious seven-year-old Cantab Hall-Light The Flame gelding, who now has 32 career wins and $585,677 in bankroll through 122 starts, for trainer Enrico Robinson and owner Pollack Racing LLC.
The Father Patrick-Blue Yonder sophomore filly Misty Blue ($5.20) won her first three starts upon joining the barn of Philly’s leading trainer Joe Bongiorno but made a miscue in her last start. All system were back to “go” on Thursday in a $19,014 conditioned contest for developing diamondgaiters, as driver Austin Siegelman put the distaff on the lead and got a soft middle half, and the filly sprinted home in :28.2 to stay clear of first-over challenger Captainforlife As (Bradley Chisholm) by 2-1/4 lengths in 1:55.1. Allioop Blue Chip (Troy Beyer) finished third. Misty Blue, now six-for-14 lifetime with $65,447 in earnings, races for El Dorado Stables.
George Napolitano Jr. topped the horsemen’s colony with three sulky victories; doubles were turned in by drivers Mark Herschberger, Trae Porter, Austin Siegelman and trainer Enrico Robinson.
Pacing mares will be in the spotlight for the Friday Philly card, starting at 12:25 p.m., with a $14,000 USD conditioned feature slotted for the 11th race. The racing week then concludes Sunday with a 12:40 p.m. program. After that, Philly will be dark for live racing the following week; the trotters and pacers will be back at the southeast Pennsylvania oval on Thursday, Oct. 8.
(With files from PHHA/Harrah's Philadelphia)