By: Jerry Connors, Jr.
CHESTER PA – The feature race winners at Harrah’s Philadelphia on “Filly And Mare Friday,” which focuses on pacers, had two things in common: they each took a lifetime mark (seven other horses lowered or equaled their mark in Friday’s 93 degree heat), and they were all guided by drivers who had multiple winners on the card.
The feature card of the program, a $13,000 fast-class distaff event, went to the Huntsville mare Strutsville, who won her second straight and as noted lowered her speed badge to 1:51.2. After early numbers of :26,4 and :55 went up on the board, Strutsville brushed from midpack raw down the backstretch, covering her own third split in :26.3 to be aflank of the pacesetter at the 1:22.4 three quarters, and then drew away from the competition. Patrick Ryder drove the winner to her second successive triumph for trainer Ron Coyne Jr. and owners Nancy Retzlaff and Douglas Stout.
The $11,500 subfeature for the veteran mares saw the Bettor’s Wish mare Wise Professor go even faster than the feature winner, and in fact the fastest clocking of the day, 1:50.4. Wise Professor was well-positioned during most of the mile, then came on to nip frontstepper Princess Stella by a half length for trainer Per Engblom and owner W Donovan.
Wise Professor was driven by eight-time Harrah’s top dashwinner George Napolitano Jr. who went on to score six victories in all Friday. Engblom and Marc Mosher were the only trainers on the day to send out two winners, and George drove all four of their horses.
Developing distaffs had their highlight contest in race one, a $12,000 event, which went to the Heston Blue Chip filly Andiamo in 1:52.2. Driver Troy Beyer, who opened the card with a “natural hat trick,” let early smoke clear then moved his charge to the lead past the quarter, and Andiamo was not threatened during a :55.2 back half for trainer Robert Cleary and the partnership of Let It Ride Stables Inc. and Lawrence Rosen.
Hall of Fame horseman Chris Ryder was already going to have an exciting weekend, what with trainees Miki And Minnie and Twin B Joe Fresh in separate eliminations of the Roses Are Red Saturday at Woodbine Mohawk – and the excitement level has a chance to rise even higher after he won here Friday with the Captaintreacherous filly Newfound (driven by son Patrick), who set a maiden mark of 1:54.2. Ryder now has 1997 conditioning wins in the USTA’s official statistical tally, which is basically North American and begun in 1991.
Sunday’s 12:40 program at Philly will feature millionaire Maximus Miki trying to overcome the outside post six in a $16,000 fast-class handicap featured pace; there are plenty of other top contests for horses both established and up-and-coming. Free Philly program pages are or will be available at www.phha.org.
CHESTER PA – The feature race winners at Harrah’s Philadelphia on “Filly And Mare Friday,” which focuses on pacers, had two things in common: they each took a lifetime mark (seven other horses lowered or equaled their mark in Friday’s 93 degree heat), and they were all guided by drivers who had multiple winners on the card.
The feature card of the program, a $13,000 fast-class distaff event, went to the Huntsville mare Strutsville, who won her second straight and as noted lowered her speed badge to 1:51.2. After early numbers of :26,4 and :55 went up on the board, Strutsville brushed from midpack raw down the backstretch, covering her own third split in :26.3 to be aflank of the pacesetter at the 1:22.4 three quarters, and then drew away from the competition. Patrick Ryder drove the winner to her second successive triumph for trainer Ron Coyne Jr. and owners Nancy Retzlaff and Douglas Stout.
The $11,500 subfeature for the veteran mares saw the Bettor’s Wish mare Wise Professor go even faster than the feature winner, and in fact the fastest clocking of the day, 1:50.4. Wise Professor was well-positioned during most of the mile, then came on to nip frontstepper Princess Stella by a half length for trainer Per Engblom and owner W Donovan.
Wise Professor was driven by eight-time Harrah’s top dashwinner George Napolitano Jr. who went on to score six victories in all Friday. Engblom and Marc Mosher were the only trainers on the day to send out two winners, and George drove all four of their horses.
Developing distaffs had their highlight contest in race one, a $12,000 event, which went to the Heston Blue Chip filly Andiamo in 1:52.2. Driver Troy Beyer, who opened the card with a “natural hat trick,” let early smoke clear then moved his charge to the lead past the quarter, and Andiamo was not threatened during a :55.2 back half for trainer Robert Cleary and the partnership of Let It Ride Stables Inc. and Lawrence Rosen.
Hall of Fame horseman Chris Ryder was already going to have an exciting weekend, what with trainees Miki And Minnie and Twin B Joe Fresh in separate eliminations of the Roses Are Red Saturday at Woodbine Mohawk – and the excitement level has a chance to rise even higher after he won here Friday with the Captaintreacherous filly Newfound (driven by son Patrick), who set a maiden mark of 1:54.2. Ryder now has 1997 conditioning wins in the USTA’s official statistical tally, which is basically North American and begun in 1991.
Sunday’s 12:40 program at Philly will feature millionaire Maximus Miki trying to overcome the outside post six in a $16,000 fast-class handicap featured pace; there are plenty of other top contests for horses both established and up-and-coming. Free Philly program pages are or will be available at www.phha.org.
RSS Feed
