By: Jerry Connors, Jr.
CHESTER PA – A range of feature events for many types of top-level horses were in the spotlight at a hot Harrah’s Philadelphia on Sunday afternoon.
Male pacers working their way to the higher ranks (and bigger purses) were gathered for the $13,500 Sunday Philly feature. The winner was the Captain Crunch ridgling Pineapple Crunch, who attacked uncovered just past the half and swept to the lead just past the three-quarters (his own third split :27.1), then stayed clear of his opposition while finishing his mile 1:51.2. Andrew McCarthy was in the sulky for Team Cancelliere – trainer Tom and owner-brother John.
Two $12,000 events served as the subfeatures for the card. On the pace, Welcometotheshow certainly lived up to his name by reducing his mark to 1:50.1 for driver Josert Fonseca and trainer Nancy Takter, the latter also co-owning the Tall Dark Stranger gelding with Joe Sbrocco, JAF Racing LLC, and Martha Frank. Welcometotheshow had a trip similar to feature winner Pineapple Crunch, moving from third down the backstretch and going his own third quarter in :26.2 to take a clear lead before the three-quarters, and he went on to win comfortably.
The subfeature for trotters was won by Seal The Deal AS, ain International Moni sophomore fully who took a new mark of 1:54.3. Tim Tetrick got the filly to first-over position nearing the half and, like most of the feature success stories, cleared to the lead before the three-quarters, with never an anxious moment through the lane for trainer Anette Lorentzon and owners ACL Stuteri AB.
In the afternoon’s $11,000 pace for fast-class veterans, Pat McGarry A remained undefeated in four 2025 starts at Philly, coming his own last half in :54.2 uncovered (have we heard that story before?) to just catch pacesetting favorite Bettor Not Talk by a nose in 1:51 under the guidance of David Miller. The Joe Bongiorno trainee, owned by Howard Taylor, now has 34 victories since coming to North America, divided equally between Philly and the other tracks at which he’s raced – except to get to that “17” number, the Million Dollar Cam gelding has needed only 34 starts at the southeast Pennsylvania oval (50%) while taking 72 starts at other North American ovals to reach the same win figure.
The Fear The Dragon gelding I Fear Nothing had not gotten a check when entered for $6000 in his last start before hooking up with trainer Izzy Estrada, but it’s been nothing but upward mobility since then. On Sunday, I Fear Nothing received all kinds of pressure on the lead in an $11,000 handicap pace for horses valued at $20,000 to $25,000, and he resisted all comers while winning in 1:52.1. That’s four wins in the five starts since he changed barns, with Troy Beyer driving here for owner Jaypaul Hoover.
David Miller got hot late on the Sunday card with three victories and tied for Sunday honors among the horsemen with Troy Beyer, who drove two races early then captured the last contest.
Harrah’s Philadelphia will be adding a 12:25 live card for the five Wednesdays in July to its regular schedule; it should be noted that the card on the Fourth Of July, Friday, will have a first post of 12:40 p.m. Free Philly program pages are or will be available at www.phha.org.
CHESTER PA – A range of feature events for many types of top-level horses were in the spotlight at a hot Harrah’s Philadelphia on Sunday afternoon.
Male pacers working their way to the higher ranks (and bigger purses) were gathered for the $13,500 Sunday Philly feature. The winner was the Captain Crunch ridgling Pineapple Crunch, who attacked uncovered just past the half and swept to the lead just past the three-quarters (his own third split :27.1), then stayed clear of his opposition while finishing his mile 1:51.2. Andrew McCarthy was in the sulky for Team Cancelliere – trainer Tom and owner-brother John.
Two $12,000 events served as the subfeatures for the card. On the pace, Welcometotheshow certainly lived up to his name by reducing his mark to 1:50.1 for driver Josert Fonseca and trainer Nancy Takter, the latter also co-owning the Tall Dark Stranger gelding with Joe Sbrocco, JAF Racing LLC, and Martha Frank. Welcometotheshow had a trip similar to feature winner Pineapple Crunch, moving from third down the backstretch and going his own third quarter in :26.2 to take a clear lead before the three-quarters, and he went on to win comfortably.
The subfeature for trotters was won by Seal The Deal AS, ain International Moni sophomore fully who took a new mark of 1:54.3. Tim Tetrick got the filly to first-over position nearing the half and, like most of the feature success stories, cleared to the lead before the three-quarters, with never an anxious moment through the lane for trainer Anette Lorentzon and owners ACL Stuteri AB.
In the afternoon’s $11,000 pace for fast-class veterans, Pat McGarry A remained undefeated in four 2025 starts at Philly, coming his own last half in :54.2 uncovered (have we heard that story before?) to just catch pacesetting favorite Bettor Not Talk by a nose in 1:51 under the guidance of David Miller. The Joe Bongiorno trainee, owned by Howard Taylor, now has 34 victories since coming to North America, divided equally between Philly and the other tracks at which he’s raced – except to get to that “17” number, the Million Dollar Cam gelding has needed only 34 starts at the southeast Pennsylvania oval (50%) while taking 72 starts at other North American ovals to reach the same win figure.
The Fear The Dragon gelding I Fear Nothing had not gotten a check when entered for $6000 in his last start before hooking up with trainer Izzy Estrada, but it’s been nothing but upward mobility since then. On Sunday, I Fear Nothing received all kinds of pressure on the lead in an $11,000 handicap pace for horses valued at $20,000 to $25,000, and he resisted all comers while winning in 1:52.1. That’s four wins in the five starts since he changed barns, with Troy Beyer driving here for owner Jaypaul Hoover.
David Miller got hot late on the Sunday card with three victories and tied for Sunday honors among the horsemen with Troy Beyer, who drove two races early then captured the last contest.
Harrah’s Philadelphia will be adding a 12:25 live card for the five Wednesdays in July to its regular schedule; it should be noted that the card on the Fourth Of July, Friday, will have a first post of 12:40 p.m. Free Philly program pages are or will be available at www.phha.org.
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