By: Jerry Connors, Jr.
CHESTER PA – “Trottin’ Thuirsday” was as usual in full effect at Harrah’s Philadelphia, as both fast-class and developing horses had feature races during the first card of the local racing week.
In the $13,000 handicap event for older performers, the Joke Face ten-year-old gelding Ultion Face S came within a fifth of his lifetime mark when he was victorious in 1:52.2 over Shoresy, giving trainer Per Engblom a 1-2 sweep in the top trot. Mark Herschberger got the winner to the front quickly and then the 3-5 shot yielded to even money second choice Shoresy just past the :27.2 quarter, and Ultion Face S could follow right along behind fractions of :56.2 and 1:24, as no outer tier flow made an impact. Herschberger took the greybeard outside at the top of the lane and worked past his stablemate by a half length. Engblom Farm LLC and Jesper Bjorn Arvenberg own the career winner of $443,493.
The $11,500 fast-class subfeature also saw the winner overcome his outermost starting spot: the Cantab Hall gelding Howlingathemoon DK, trotting his mile in 1:52.3 to lower his lifetime mark by three seconds. Simon Allard took control early with the diamondgaiter, went :27.3 to the quarter then got a “cheap half” of :57; the breather allowed the Danish-bred to go the three quarters in 1:24.3 and still have enough to defeat closing chalk Geronimo Trio IT by 1 3/4 lengths for trainer-owner Pat Lachance.
Best in a $12,000 trot for up-and-coming horses was the Greenshoe gelding Abraham Hanover, who also went the wire-to-wire route -- :28.4, :59, 1:27, and 1:55.2, holding off first-over favorite Yardbird by 1¼ lengths while knocking a second off his lifetime best. Andrew McCarthy handled sulky duty for trainer Stacy Chiodo and owner Gunjan Patel.
Hall of Fame horseman Chris Ryder recorded his 2000th training win in North America since the USTA statistics began to be kept in 1991, with his son Patrick (now in the Top Ten at Philly) driving Chris’ own Piano Man, a Bettor’s Wish sophomore gelding, to a maiden win in 1:53.4 in the day’s opener. Chris Ryder, a native of New Zealand, is currently training two of the free-for-all pacing mares’ toughest individuals, 2024 Horse of the Year Twin B Joe Fresh and double Dan Patch winner Miki And Minnie; it would take many more lines of print to name all of the good horses that have benefited from the direction of Ryder over the last three-plus decades.
Troy Beyer, like Pat Ryder both 31 years old and a member of the Philly sulky leaders, continues to be the hero of the local longshot players after bringing home Blue Cupertino at a mutuel of $91.40. It was Beyer’s fourth $50+ “bomber” at the meet; no other driver has more than one.
Simon Allard had a very big day on Thursday, reaching the wire first five times, twice for trainer and sometimes-partner (A 1 Racing) Mark Akins. Driver Corey Callahan had a double, as did trainer Joe Columbo.
The racing week at Harrah’s Philadelphia continues on Friday at 12:40, with pacing distaffs making up the featured races; there will also be a carryover into the fifth race Pick 5. Next week two-year-olds are on the condition sheet. Free Philly program pages are or will be available at www.phha.org.
CHESTER PA – “Trottin’ Thuirsday” was as usual in full effect at Harrah’s Philadelphia, as both fast-class and developing horses had feature races during the first card of the local racing week.
In the $13,000 handicap event for older performers, the Joke Face ten-year-old gelding Ultion Face S came within a fifth of his lifetime mark when he was victorious in 1:52.2 over Shoresy, giving trainer Per Engblom a 1-2 sweep in the top trot. Mark Herschberger got the winner to the front quickly and then the 3-5 shot yielded to even money second choice Shoresy just past the :27.2 quarter, and Ultion Face S could follow right along behind fractions of :56.2 and 1:24, as no outer tier flow made an impact. Herschberger took the greybeard outside at the top of the lane and worked past his stablemate by a half length. Engblom Farm LLC and Jesper Bjorn Arvenberg own the career winner of $443,493.
The $11,500 fast-class subfeature also saw the winner overcome his outermost starting spot: the Cantab Hall gelding Howlingathemoon DK, trotting his mile in 1:52.3 to lower his lifetime mark by three seconds. Simon Allard took control early with the diamondgaiter, went :27.3 to the quarter then got a “cheap half” of :57; the breather allowed the Danish-bred to go the three quarters in 1:24.3 and still have enough to defeat closing chalk Geronimo Trio IT by 1 3/4 lengths for trainer-owner Pat Lachance.
Best in a $12,000 trot for up-and-coming horses was the Greenshoe gelding Abraham Hanover, who also went the wire-to-wire route -- :28.4, :59, 1:27, and 1:55.2, holding off first-over favorite Yardbird by 1¼ lengths while knocking a second off his lifetime best. Andrew McCarthy handled sulky duty for trainer Stacy Chiodo and owner Gunjan Patel.
Hall of Fame horseman Chris Ryder recorded his 2000th training win in North America since the USTA statistics began to be kept in 1991, with his son Patrick (now in the Top Ten at Philly) driving Chris’ own Piano Man, a Bettor’s Wish sophomore gelding, to a maiden win in 1:53.4 in the day’s opener. Chris Ryder, a native of New Zealand, is currently training two of the free-for-all pacing mares’ toughest individuals, 2024 Horse of the Year Twin B Joe Fresh and double Dan Patch winner Miki And Minnie; it would take many more lines of print to name all of the good horses that have benefited from the direction of Ryder over the last three-plus decades.
Troy Beyer, like Pat Ryder both 31 years old and a member of the Philly sulky leaders, continues to be the hero of the local longshot players after bringing home Blue Cupertino at a mutuel of $91.40. It was Beyer’s fourth $50+ “bomber” at the meet; no other driver has more than one.
Simon Allard had a very big day on Thursday, reaching the wire first five times, twice for trainer and sometimes-partner (A 1 Racing) Mark Akins. Driver Corey Callahan had a double, as did trainer Joe Columbo.
The racing week at Harrah’s Philadelphia continues on Friday at 12:40, with pacing distaffs making up the featured races; there will also be a carryover into the fifth race Pick 5. Next week two-year-olds are on the condition sheet. Free Philly program pages are or will be available at www.phha.org.
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