By: Jerry Connors, Jr.
CHESTER PA – A pair of $16,000 trotting features at Harrah’s Philadelphia Friday afternoon saw the winners use front-end tactics to produce successful efforts.
In the first, driver Marcus Miller got the Muscle Hill ridgling Boxing Gloves to the lead in :28.4, then got little resistance to his authority, resting to the :59 half and still only having to go to the three-quarters in 1:28 as the first-over favorite Miss You Kelly could make little impression. Boxing Gloves was thus left to sprint home in :28.2 to complete a 1:56.2 package, 1¼ lengths ahead of pocketsitting Choco Charlie for trainer Erv Miller and owner Silver Linden Farms.
CHESTER PA – A pair of $16,000 trotting features at Harrah’s Philadelphia Friday afternoon saw the winners use front-end tactics to produce successful efforts.
In the first, driver Marcus Miller got the Muscle Hill ridgling Boxing Gloves to the lead in :28.4, then got little resistance to his authority, resting to the :59 half and still only having to go to the three-quarters in 1:28 as the first-over favorite Miss You Kelly could make little impression. Boxing Gloves was thus left to sprint home in :28.2 to complete a 1:56.2 package, 1¼ lengths ahead of pocketsitting Choco Charlie for trainer Erv Miller and owner Silver Linden Farms.
While Smooth Acceleration’s victory also came from a pacesetting strategy, the course of the race was very different. Tony Morgan moved from third with the favored Swan For All sophomore gelding passing the :28.1 quarter, and as soon as he reached the top he came under pressure from Trixar, who had followed his move outside. Middle fractions of :56.4 and 1:25.3 resulted, but Smooth Acceleration stood tall when put to the test, finishing 4¼ lengths ahead of Trixar while taking a lifetime best of 1:54.2 for trainer Jenny Melander and the ownership of Melander Racing Inc. and Clark Stables LLC.
Fast-class pacing mares went postward in a $12,500 contest, where second choice Believe In Me rallied up the inside to just catch the chalk pacesetter Zoe Ellasen in 1:51.2, equaling the mark she had earned at Philly both last year and this. Pat Berry was in the sulky for driver Brett Pelling and owner Bay Pond Racing Stable.
Fast-class pacing mares went postward in a $12,500 contest, where second choice Believe In Me rallied up the inside to just catch the chalk pacesetter Zoe Ellasen in 1:51.2, equaling the mark she had earned at Philly both last year and this. Pat Berry was in the sulky for driver Brett Pelling and owner Bay Pond Racing Stable.
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