By: Jerry Connors, Jr.
CHESTER PA – The Walner gelding Chef Rocco posted a 11-1 upset in the $14,000 featured conditioned trot at Harrah’s Philadelphia on “Trottin’ Thursday” afternoon, winning in 1:53.3 after heavy favorite Secret Agent Man, coming off a 1:51.1 qualifier here at Philly in readying for his seasonal debut, fell victim to his breaking bugaboo, going offstride on the lead on the far turn.
The five outer horses wanted a part of the early action after the inside trio did not get away well. Chef Rocco was first to the lead, putting Im An Andover in behind him, then eventually yielding to Blockchain, who disdained a tuck and pressed on to command after a :27.4 opener. Secret Agent Man, starting from the outside post eight, also declined a pylon spot and went up to challenge Blockchain, clearing him for the top going towards a :55.3 half.
Late in the backstretch Secret Agent Man opened a clear advantage to a 1:23.4 three-quarters, with Blockbuster not keeping the pocket tight and the outer tiers ineffectual. But a little more than an eighth of a mile out, the favorite lost his composure, and with the pocket horse both not strong and moving a path outside to avoid any trouble from the breaker, Chef Rocco able to move right through and trot to the fore, winning by 1¼ lengths. Im An Andover, at 95-1, came up inside of him to finish second, with Soar Higher, one of the inside-drawing horses not getting away well, even further down in the passing lane and along for third.
Todd McCarthy masterminded the upset for trainer-driver Mark Akins.
The Father Patrick mare Prominence was ready for and flat in her seasonal debut, winning the $13,000 co-featured trot in 1:54.1 for the ownership of Pinske Stables, Melvin Hartman, and Little E LLC. Trainer-driver Åke Svanstedt pulled the mare uncovered from the second half of the field not too long after Herecomesdajudge, wide early, took the point in :29, then grinded up with his mare as the leader posted midsplits of :57.2 and 1:25.3. Herecomesdajudge was still in command into the stretch, but Svanstedt had a good sense of what he had in front of him and Prominence was able to record a length victory.
Racing at Harrah’s Philadelphia will continue on Friday at 12:25 and Sunday at 12:40, with the track already at work for one of its biggest days of the year: “Super Sunday,” coming a week from Sunday on the 25th. Three $100,000 Invitationals for the elite older performers will be matched with Pennsylvania Sire Stakes action for three-year-old pacing males on what is traditionally one of the best days of the Standardbred year in the state. Free Philly program pages are or will be available at www.phha.org.
CHESTER PA – The Walner gelding Chef Rocco posted a 11-1 upset in the $14,000 featured conditioned trot at Harrah’s Philadelphia on “Trottin’ Thursday” afternoon, winning in 1:53.3 after heavy favorite Secret Agent Man, coming off a 1:51.1 qualifier here at Philly in readying for his seasonal debut, fell victim to his breaking bugaboo, going offstride on the lead on the far turn.
The five outer horses wanted a part of the early action after the inside trio did not get away well. Chef Rocco was first to the lead, putting Im An Andover in behind him, then eventually yielding to Blockchain, who disdained a tuck and pressed on to command after a :27.4 opener. Secret Agent Man, starting from the outside post eight, also declined a pylon spot and went up to challenge Blockchain, clearing him for the top going towards a :55.3 half.
Late in the backstretch Secret Agent Man opened a clear advantage to a 1:23.4 three-quarters, with Blockbuster not keeping the pocket tight and the outer tiers ineffectual. But a little more than an eighth of a mile out, the favorite lost his composure, and with the pocket horse both not strong and moving a path outside to avoid any trouble from the breaker, Chef Rocco able to move right through and trot to the fore, winning by 1¼ lengths. Im An Andover, at 95-1, came up inside of him to finish second, with Soar Higher, one of the inside-drawing horses not getting away well, even further down in the passing lane and along for third.
Todd McCarthy masterminded the upset for trainer-driver Mark Akins.
The Father Patrick mare Prominence was ready for and flat in her seasonal debut, winning the $13,000 co-featured trot in 1:54.1 for the ownership of Pinske Stables, Melvin Hartman, and Little E LLC. Trainer-driver Åke Svanstedt pulled the mare uncovered from the second half of the field not too long after Herecomesdajudge, wide early, took the point in :29, then grinded up with his mare as the leader posted midsplits of :57.2 and 1:25.3. Herecomesdajudge was still in command into the stretch, but Svanstedt had a good sense of what he had in front of him and Prominence was able to record a length victory.
Racing at Harrah’s Philadelphia will continue on Friday at 12:25 and Sunday at 12:40, with the track already at work for one of its biggest days of the year: “Super Sunday,” coming a week from Sunday on the 25th. Three $100,000 Invitationals for the elite older performers will be matched with Pennsylvania Sire Stakes action for three-year-old pacing males on what is traditionally one of the best days of the Standardbred year in the state. Free Philly program pages are or will be available at www.phha.org.
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