By: Jerry Connors, Jr.
CHESTER PA – Heaven Needs Me, second in his first start of the year against the good Another C Note, went one better in the $13,500 featured pace at Harrah’s Philadelphia on Sunday afternoon, rallying off cover on a track not known for being kind to closers to win in 1:53.1. He stepped his own last half in :56.1 on a day when the temperatures plummeted (again) and did not reach 50 degrees.
Simon Allard got away midpack with the Capt Midnight gelding, then was able to work out a second-over trip behind Smooch In The Dark. That one was able to grind down pacesetting favorite TH Colby, but then the winner paced past his cover provider late for a length decision. Chelsey Faurot owns and trains the sharp-looking sidewheeler.
Allard was able to come back and capture the $13,000 fast-class pace with the eleven-year-old Rock N Roll Heaven gelding Lyons Steel in 1:52. The veteran went past early leader Armada Hanover in front of the stands the first time around, and then the second time around he withstood the comeback of that rival by half a length for trainer Jose Ramos and BD Racing LLC.
As “horses for courses” go, Lyons Steel and Harrah’s Philly fit like a hand in a glove. The greybeard is 28 for 95 lifetime at the southeast Pennsylvania, a percentage of nearly 30 to win, whereas at other tracks he is just off 20% with a 38-for-193 record.
Simon Allard also was the pilot of Solid Character, who posted the fastest time of the day 1:50.4, just a fifth off the local standard set on Friday by his Burke Brigade stablemate, the mare Champagne Room.
Along with Allard’s journée des trois gagnants, drivers Tim Tetrick and Joe Bongiorno built on their strong Friday production with a super Sunday showing. Tetrick won four times Sunday, giving him eight for the week and a meetleading fifteen wins (an average of three per day). Bongiorno had a second straight driving-training double, taking over the top spot in the conditioners ranks with an amazing record at the meet of 10-7-3-0-.867. Ron Burke and Chelsey Faurot had training doubles.
Racing resumes at the southeast Pennsylvania oval on Thursday at 12:25, with a very competitive $13,000 fast-class trot topping the racing menu. The following Thursday (April 30), Philly will be dark because it will host a special Saturday at 12:40 card on Kentucky Derby Day, May 2. Free Philly program pages are or will be available at www.phha.org.
CHESTER PA – Heaven Needs Me, second in his first start of the year against the good Another C Note, went one better in the $13,500 featured pace at Harrah’s Philadelphia on Sunday afternoon, rallying off cover on a track not known for being kind to closers to win in 1:53.1. He stepped his own last half in :56.1 on a day when the temperatures plummeted (again) and did not reach 50 degrees.
Simon Allard got away midpack with the Capt Midnight gelding, then was able to work out a second-over trip behind Smooch In The Dark. That one was able to grind down pacesetting favorite TH Colby, but then the winner paced past his cover provider late for a length decision. Chelsey Faurot owns and trains the sharp-looking sidewheeler.
Allard was able to come back and capture the $13,000 fast-class pace with the eleven-year-old Rock N Roll Heaven gelding Lyons Steel in 1:52. The veteran went past early leader Armada Hanover in front of the stands the first time around, and then the second time around he withstood the comeback of that rival by half a length for trainer Jose Ramos and BD Racing LLC.
As “horses for courses” go, Lyons Steel and Harrah’s Philly fit like a hand in a glove. The greybeard is 28 for 95 lifetime at the southeast Pennsylvania, a percentage of nearly 30 to win, whereas at other tracks he is just off 20% with a 38-for-193 record.
Simon Allard also was the pilot of Solid Character, who posted the fastest time of the day 1:50.4, just a fifth off the local standard set on Friday by his Burke Brigade stablemate, the mare Champagne Room.
Along with Allard’s journée des trois gagnants, drivers Tim Tetrick and Joe Bongiorno built on their strong Friday production with a super Sunday showing. Tetrick won four times Sunday, giving him eight for the week and a meetleading fifteen wins (an average of three per day). Bongiorno had a second straight driving-training double, taking over the top spot in the conditioners ranks with an amazing record at the meet of 10-7-3-0-.867. Ron Burke and Chelsey Faurot had training doubles.
Racing resumes at the southeast Pennsylvania oval on Thursday at 12:25, with a very competitive $13,000 fast-class trot topping the racing menu. The following Thursday (April 30), Philly will be dark because it will host a special Saturday at 12:40 card on Kentucky Derby Day, May 2. Free Philly program pages are or will be available at www.phha.org.
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