CHESTER PA – With the temperature registering just two degrees above freezing, the Banker Volo sophomore trotting gelding Itsonlymoneyhoney provided the heat by winning the trotting section of a pair of $11,200 features in a lifetime best of 1:55.4 on Friday afternoon at Harrah’s Philadelphia.
The recent import from Iowa via Hoosier and Yonkers had to go first-over, but he proved more than equal to the task, coming his own back half in :56.4 for driver Andrew McCarthy (a three-time winner on the afternoon). Itsonlymoneyhoney won by 4¾ lengths over favored Father Dunn, who tried to follow his cover but could not stay with him. The Rob Harmon-trained three-year-old, owned by Harmon Racing Stable LLC, Lawrence Kittenplan, and Winners Circle Racing LLC, won his second straight, and he has recorded 12 victories in but 34 lifetime starts.
The $10,000 fast-class pace saw Shnitzledosomethin, second in his Breeders Crown freshman final three years ago, raise his lifetime earnings to $784,833 with a nice engine victory in 1:51.1 for Todd McCarthy. The son of Fred And Ginger, making his second start since a short layoff, looks ready for better opposition for trainer Dylan Davis and the partnership of Howard Taylor, Edwin Gold, Abraham Basen, and Richard Lombardo.
Trainer Ron Burke and Gilbert Garcia-Herrera each trained a winner on the Friday card; they remain knotted at the top of the Philly training standings with 86 victories, with but four cards to go in the local 2020 season.