CHESTER PA – The $16,000 featured races at Harrah’s Philadelphia on Friday were a study in contrasts: on the pace, War Crimes made it look really easy as she won her fourth straight race in 1:55.1, while on the trot Armageddon Seelster was extended to grind down pacesetter Lucky Shiela by a neck in 1:56.
The Western Terror mare War Crimes made two moves in achieving her victory, making the top, forcing a tuck, then surrendering the lead to A Oliveinmymartini to a 27.3 quarter, only to be right out and reclaiming command, then slowing the half to 58.2. Successive 28.2 quarters coming home were enough to keep War Crimes 2 1/2 lengths ahead of Dance For Kisses at the wire for driver Tim Tetrick, trainer Josh Green, and Green Racing Inc. as the four-year-old ran her record to 8-for-13 lifetime.
The $14,500 co-featured pace for fast-class distaff pacers had an exciting four-across-the-wire finish, with the American Ideal mare Jag Out proving most photogenic in a 1:53.4 mile. Jag Out had the tough first-up grind to surmount, but she proved best by a nose over potential pocket rocket Brazuca, who in turn was a neck ahead of the fast-closing Arts And Flowers, with pacesetting Sweet Bobbie just another neck in back of those three. The meet’s leading trainer, Nick Surick, conditions the winner, who pushed her lifetime bankroll to $405,214 for the Nick Surick Stable LLC and J L Benson Stables Inc.; Tim Tetrick again had the winning sulky assignment during a card where he visited Victory Lane five times.