Mr Bluebird hadn’t raced in 21 days before taking the track as the favourite in the $19,178 feature conditioned race for developing trotters on Thursday, Sept. 25 at Harrah’s Philadelphia, but trainer Åke Svanstedt had the stallion ready, and Mr Bluebird went on to his fourth straight victory, this time in 1:54.3 over a surface rated good.
The son of Six Pack-Goosebump Hanover seized early command for Johnathan Ahle, yielded before the :27.3 opener, but was soon back on the move to the top and got a :57.2 breather to the midway point. Second choice Super Duper Cooper (Mark Herschberger) came uncovered down the backstretch, reached the leader by the 1:25.4 three-quarters, and tried hard through the stretch, but Mr Bluebird had enough in reserve to win by 1-1/2 lengths. Seven Reps (George Napolitano Jr.) was third. The winning four-year-old is now nine-for-27 lifetime for Ake Svanstedt Inc., Little E LLC, and Torbjorn Swahn Inc. The win price was $3.20.
The co-featured conditioned trot for up-and-coming horses, worth $18,493, went to the Bar Hopping-Holtby Hanover gelding Honolulu Hanover ($4.60), a 1:54.3 winner just after the track rating had been upgraded to fast. Honolulu Hanover, the second choice, sat behind favoured Goodgirl Bi It (Corey Callahan) for much of the mile, then came outside and said "aloha" to that rival in tallying for driver George Napolitano Jr., trainer Ron Burke, and Burke Racing Stable LLC, Weaver Bruscemi LLC, William Switala, and James Martin. He was 2-1/4 lengths the best over Goodgirl Bi It with Credit To Frank (Simon Allard) third.
The win was one of five for Napolitano, a many-time Philly driving champion. He also won with Daamericansky ($4.20), Spy Booth ($8.20), Messenger Hanover ($3.80), and Nvrfearlloydishere ($3.40). Napolitano sits second in the standings this year, though well behind leader Trace Tetrick. The career winner of more than 12,000 races has tallied 306 so far this season.
The two fast-class conditioned trot races took place over a fast track. The most accomplished of these diamondgaiters met for $17,808 in a handicap conditioned event, with Southwind Tyrion odds-on despite the outermost post seven, trying to be another Svanstedt-off-layoff winner as he returned after 28 days away. Southwind Tyrion (Ahle) went past Asteroid (Corey Callahan), a former barnmate of his, on the first turn and cut the first three splits. But Asteroid stayed close enough to be able to mount an inside stretch charge, and he collared the chalk after just one qualifier since his last start on July 7, getting up by a half-length in 1:52.1 on a day not conducive to speedy miles. The Creatine-Ultimate Cameron gelding scored for trainer Jeff Cullipher and Pollack Racing LLC. Take All Comers (Troy Beyer) was third.
The $15,068 conditioned sub-feature for the fast-class diagonally-gaited set also fell to Team Cullipher/Pollack, as the Bar Hopping-Up Front Hotsey gelding Usain Hanover went even faster than Asteroid did in the feature, crossing the wire in 1:52. Jack Pelling pointed him to the front early, then let his powerful charge take care of the rest, leaving a good field behind by 5-3/4 lengths.
Svanstedt and driver Ahle teamed up for another victory on the card, winning a $15,068 two-year-old conditioned event with the striking piebald freshman colt Nebbiolo, by Captain Corey-Via Lattea It. He won his second straight race by three-quarters of a length in 2:00.2 over a good surface for Knutsson Trotting Inc.
Of the other driving doublers, Ahle got both of his pair for trainer Svanstedt, Troy Beyer got his two for trainer Jim Campbell, and Corey Callahan got one of his two for Cullipher. Burke also had a training double.
Racing continues at Harrah’s Philadelphia with a Friday 12:25 p.m. card and a Sunday 12:40 p.m. program. The track will then go dark for live racing until Oct. 10 as the racing surface undergoes refurbishment.
(With files from PHHA/Harrah's Philadelphia; photo of Mr Bluebird winning on Sept. 28, 2024)