By: Jerry Connors, Jr.
CHESTER PA – Excalibur Bi continued successfully on the comeback trail by winning the $13,500 trotting feature at Harrah’s Philadelphia on Thursday afternoon. Corey Callahan moved to the lead with the son of Muscle Hill in front of the stands the front time and kept command from there, winning as the favorite by two lengths over Manoah in 1:55.
Purchased for $210,000 as a yearling, Excalibur Bi was an International Stallion Stake winner at two and set his 1:52.3 mark in his first start at three, but that proved to be the highlight of his sophomore year, and he did not race at four. Team Cancelliere – trainer Tom and owner-brother John – kept faith in the horse, though, and he looks like he has a chance to live up to his early potential.
A $13,000 handicap trot for the fast-class set saw Gruesome Twosome enjoy getting away from major stakes competition, overcoming post eight to win in 1:53.1 despite a difficult trip. The son of You Know You Do, an Indiana champion at three and now an earner of $725,153, was wide much of the first quarter before finding a hole, then had to come on from third-over, but the outer flow was lively, and he was able to outfoot Once In A Lifetime, the horse directly in front of him, by three parts of a length. Nancy Takter trains the sturdy winner for Daryl Bontrager and Ira Steinberg; for driver Tim Tetrick, meet leader, the win was one of five on the day.
Racing will continue at Philly on Friday at 12:25 and Sunday at 12:40. The following Wednesday, July 30, was to have been the final Wednesday program, but that scheduled card has now been canceled due to a lack of entries. Free Philly program pages are or will be available at www.phha.org.
CHESTER PA – Excalibur Bi continued successfully on the comeback trail by winning the $13,500 trotting feature at Harrah’s Philadelphia on Thursday afternoon. Corey Callahan moved to the lead with the son of Muscle Hill in front of the stands the front time and kept command from there, winning as the favorite by two lengths over Manoah in 1:55.
Purchased for $210,000 as a yearling, Excalibur Bi was an International Stallion Stake winner at two and set his 1:52.3 mark in his first start at three, but that proved to be the highlight of his sophomore year, and he did not race at four. Team Cancelliere – trainer Tom and owner-brother John – kept faith in the horse, though, and he looks like he has a chance to live up to his early potential.
A $13,000 handicap trot for the fast-class set saw Gruesome Twosome enjoy getting away from major stakes competition, overcoming post eight to win in 1:53.1 despite a difficult trip. The son of You Know You Do, an Indiana champion at three and now an earner of $725,153, was wide much of the first quarter before finding a hole, then had to come on from third-over, but the outer flow was lively, and he was able to outfoot Once In A Lifetime, the horse directly in front of him, by three parts of a length. Nancy Takter trains the sturdy winner for Daryl Bontrager and Ira Steinberg; for driver Tim Tetrick, meet leader, the win was one of five on the day.
Racing will continue at Philly on Friday at 12:25 and Sunday at 12:40. The following Wednesday, July 30, was to have been the final Wednesday program, but that scheduled card has now been canceled due to a lack of entries. Free Philly program pages are or will be available at www.phha.org.
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