CHESTER PA – A pair of $16,000 featured events headlined the Friday afternoon racing at Harrah’s Philadelphia.
In the co-feature for trotters, the Father Patrick gelding Divine Spirit overcame the difficult tuck-then-first-over trip to win in 1:56.3. Remarkable De Vie put up the early fractions of :28 and :58.2; by the 1:26.3 three-quarters he had engaged the leader and soon gained the advantage, and through the stretch the sophomore was able to stay 1½ lengths ahead of gaining favorite Navarone Hanover. Trainer Brett Pelling co-owns the winner with Lindy Farms of Connecticut; for driver Andrew McCarthy, the success was one of six on the afternoon card for him.
In a $14,500 pace for fast-class mares, the sharp Roll With Joe mare Queen Lostris N made every pole a winning one to lower her mark to 1:51.2 and spoil the U.S. debut of Imprincessgemma N. George Napolitano Jr. sent the winner of $182,336 right to the front and put up splits of :27.1, :56.2, and 1:23.3; Imprincessgemma N, who got a 3-tuck early, had to come first-over, and despite a persistent grind came up a length short. Gilbert Garcia-Owen, the leading trainer at Harrah’s Philly, conditions the winner for Gilberto Garcia-Herrera.
FINISHING LINES – Harness royalty comes to Harrah’s Philly on Sunday for Great Northeast Open Series action: #1-ranked Shartin N tops the mares pace, while 2017 Horse of the Year Hannelore Hanover is set to go in the open trot.