By: Jerry Connors, Jr.
CHESTER PA – Mad Max Hanover, a 3-5 favorite who gave the assembled at Harrah’s Philadelphia on Sunday afternoon virtually a minute’s worth of anxiety as he could not stay with cover, finally surged in the final steps to catch pacesetting Lunar by a nose and win the $13,000 fast-class handicap pacing feature in 1:50.3.
The victorious Always B Miki gelding, coming off a rimmed-the-mile victory at The Meadowlands, got away fifth as Lunar dashed right to the front in a :26.3 opener, with Mad Max Hanover moving out nearing the :55 half and soon catching cover behind Primary Colors. But as the pacesetter and first-over waged war past a 1:22.3 three-quarters and into the stretch, “Mad Max” was still gapping, and his prospects did not look bright.
The chalk continued a bit behind as the top two fought on, then found a burst in the last fifty yards and was able to nip Lunar by the smallest possible margin, with Primary Colors third, only a neck off taking it all. Mad Max Hanover boosted his career earnings to $862,913 with the narrow victory for driver David Miller, trainer Jake Leamon, and owner Marvin Rounick.
An $11,000 fast-class subfeature was also taken by an Always B Miki gelding, Its Saturday Night, who was allowed to dawdle on the lead to the half in :57, then sprinted home in :54 - :26.3 in a 1:51 success story. Mark Herschberger handled the winner for trainer Nifty Norman (who also trained second-place finisher Belmont Royale N) and Dune Road Stables LLC.
There were two $12,000 events for developing horses, one on each gait. The assembled pacing males in this class were fronted by another Nifty Norman trainee, Always B Gibby, yet another altered son of Always B Miki. Jack Pelling put the horse on the lead, benefited from some confusion past the half, then dashed home in twin :27.4s to cross the wire first in 1:53.1 for LSC Stables.
In the trot, the Gimpanzee filly Mispanzee was able to race in third much of the mile for Tim Tetrick, then moved out and got the better of pylonshooting Esme by a neck in 1:55.2. Mispanzee has now won her last three starts for trainer Noel Daley and owner Thaddeus Wier.
In the $11,000 top-level claiming handicap pace, Wattastory was moved from fourth off the first turn by driver Tim Tetrick but met dogged resistance from pacesetting Hervey Hanover from early in the stretch the first time to just past midbackstretch. Finally clearing to the lead, the Tellitlikeitis gelding Wattastory opened a big lead and went on to win in 1:51.4 for trainer Hunter Oakes and owner Jeffrey Renzi.
Doubles on the card were notched by drivers David Miller, Jack Pelling, and Tim Tetrick, and by trainers Jake Leamon and Nifty Norman.
Racing resumes at Philly on “Trottin’ Thursday,” with diamondgaited features of all types including the betting debut of the two-year-olds; there will also be a carryover into the fifth race Pick 5 pool. Free Philly program pages are or will be available.
CHESTER PA – Mad Max Hanover, a 3-5 favorite who gave the assembled at Harrah’s Philadelphia on Sunday afternoon virtually a minute’s worth of anxiety as he could not stay with cover, finally surged in the final steps to catch pacesetting Lunar by a nose and win the $13,000 fast-class handicap pacing feature in 1:50.3.
The victorious Always B Miki gelding, coming off a rimmed-the-mile victory at The Meadowlands, got away fifth as Lunar dashed right to the front in a :26.3 opener, with Mad Max Hanover moving out nearing the :55 half and soon catching cover behind Primary Colors. But as the pacesetter and first-over waged war past a 1:22.3 three-quarters and into the stretch, “Mad Max” was still gapping, and his prospects did not look bright.
The chalk continued a bit behind as the top two fought on, then found a burst in the last fifty yards and was able to nip Lunar by the smallest possible margin, with Primary Colors third, only a neck off taking it all. Mad Max Hanover boosted his career earnings to $862,913 with the narrow victory for driver David Miller, trainer Jake Leamon, and owner Marvin Rounick.
An $11,000 fast-class subfeature was also taken by an Always B Miki gelding, Its Saturday Night, who was allowed to dawdle on the lead to the half in :57, then sprinted home in :54 - :26.3 in a 1:51 success story. Mark Herschberger handled the winner for trainer Nifty Norman (who also trained second-place finisher Belmont Royale N) and Dune Road Stables LLC.
There were two $12,000 events for developing horses, one on each gait. The assembled pacing males in this class were fronted by another Nifty Norman trainee, Always B Gibby, yet another altered son of Always B Miki. Jack Pelling put the horse on the lead, benefited from some confusion past the half, then dashed home in twin :27.4s to cross the wire first in 1:53.1 for LSC Stables.
In the trot, the Gimpanzee filly Mispanzee was able to race in third much of the mile for Tim Tetrick, then moved out and got the better of pylonshooting Esme by a neck in 1:55.2. Mispanzee has now won her last three starts for trainer Noel Daley and owner Thaddeus Wier.
In the $11,000 top-level claiming handicap pace, Wattastory was moved from fourth off the first turn by driver Tim Tetrick but met dogged resistance from pacesetting Hervey Hanover from early in the stretch the first time to just past midbackstretch. Finally clearing to the lead, the Tellitlikeitis gelding Wattastory opened a big lead and went on to win in 1:51.4 for trainer Hunter Oakes and owner Jeffrey Renzi.
Doubles on the card were notched by drivers David Miller, Jack Pelling, and Tim Tetrick, and by trainers Jake Leamon and Nifty Norman.
Racing resumes at Philly on “Trottin’ Thursday,” with diamondgaited features of all types including the betting debut of the two-year-olds; there will also be a carryover into the fifth race Pick 5 pool. Free Philly program pages are or will be available.
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