CHESTER PA – Trotter Summit In Sight and pacer Love Me Some Lou completed a Simpson – Liberty Bell “stakes sweep” at Harrah’s Philadelphia on Thursday afternoon, as three-year-old males of both gaits each raced in three $30,000 divisions. Also completing a “sweep” was sidewheeling sire Sweet Lou, whose progeny captured all three of the pacing contests.
Love Me Some Lou was moved to the front early by driver George Napolitano Jr. in his division of the pacing action, and the winner of $247,302 lifetime, most of all the afternoon’s stakes winners, went on to an easy 2¾ lengths victory in 1:51.3 over Brassy Hanover, who proved most photogenic in a three-way fight for second. The double stakes-winning colt, who went off as the public choice, is campaigned by the brother team of trainer Tom and owner John Cancelliere.
Tim Tetrick has been the hottest driver at Philly recently, adapting a horse’s racing style as needed, and never was this more in evidence than in his 1:51.3 victory with the gelding Crimson And Chrome. In his 25 starts lifetime before today, the sophomore had never been better than fourth at the half, and had never had the lead except at the finish call, but here Tetrick got him to the front at the quarter over the speed-favoring oval and made every pole a winning one, thwarting the late rush of favored Escapetothebeach by a length. Trainer Jim King Jr., staring at what could be a big weekend north of the border, conditions the eight-time winner for Tim Tetrick LLC.
The chalk was perfect in the three trotting divisions, and Muscle Hill sired two of the three winners. Summit In Sight completed the local stakes double with an engine victory in 1:55.2, with the colt staying two lengths ahead of pocketsitter Stonebridge Symba at the wire for driver Andy Miller, trainer/wife Julie Miller, and the ownership of Stroy Inc. and the Andy Miller Stable Inc.
Muscle Hill doubled up with the colt Night Hall, who was winning for the third time in his last four starts after going 0-for-10 in his two seasons at the track before his fortunes turned around. Trainer/driver Åke Svanstedt raced the developing youngster in the two-hole behind Macmorris Hanover, then moved out in the lane to catch that rival by a neck while equaling his mark of 1:54.3.
The Explosive Matter gelding Explosivebreakaway continued his stellar career form, now having nine victories and five seconds in but seventeen career starts after going to the front early and keeping two-hole-sitter Mass Fortune K 1½ lengths behind him at the finish in 1:54.2. Tom Jackson drove the steady performer for trainer Fred Grant, who is also part of the management team with Janice Rubin, Steve Katz, and Murray Brown.